Explanation
The Ohio State University (OSU) proposes to conduct a Priority I Market Feasibility Study for a nutrient water quality trading program in the Upper Scioto River Watershed. The Department of Public Utilities, subject to the approval of the Columbus City Council, will provide $50,000 towards the 25% local funding match required under this funding opportunity. The Department is also prepared to provide in-kind services in support of the study. A brief discussion of the reasons for supporting OSU's grant application follows.
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities is the regional wastewater and drinking water utility serving over one million people in Central Ohio. Columbus draws its drinking water from and discharges its wastewater to the Upper Scioto River Watershed. The Scioto River is a tributary of the Ohio River. The headwaters of the Upper Scioto are located in a major corn and soybean producing region. These agricultural activities are the source of most of the phosphorus and nitrogen loadings to the watershed and the resulting nutrient impairment of the Upper Scioto.
Ohio EPA is in the process of developing numeric water quality criteria for nutrients that will likely result in stringent water quality based and/or technology based phosphorus and nitrogen limits in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permits for Columbus' wastewater treatment plants. Columbus' consulting engineers estimate that meeting the least stringent limits that may emerge from this process may require up to $385 million in new wastewater treatment infrastructure.
For a number of years, Columbus, as the regional drinking water utility in Central Ohio, has participated in local water quality partnerships that administer programs aimed at drinking water source protection. Columbus in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") has provided funding for USDA Environmental Quality Incentive Programs ("...
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