Ohio EPA Awards the City of Obetz $34,000.00 in Grant Funding
We’re proud to share that the City of Obetz has been awarded $34,000 in grant funding from the Ohio EPA’s H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program!
This funding, part of Governor DeWine’s expanded H2Ohio initiative, will be used to purchase three new snow box pushers—one for a backhoe and two for skid steers—helping us clear roads more efficiently while protecting our local waterways from salt runoff.
Funded by settlement dollars from a 2024 environmental case, the H2Ohio Rivers program supports communities across Ohio in upgrading their salt management practices. This effort helps reduce harmful salt concentrations in rivers and streams, preserving water quality and extending the life of our infrastructure.
Thank you to the Ohio EPA for supporting local governments in their mission to operate more sustainably!
See below for the full press release.
Ohio EPA Awards the City of Obetz $34,000.00 in Grant Funding
Funding from H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program
COLUMBUS, OH April 24, 2025 – The City of Obetz was recently awarded $34,000.00 in the third round of grant funding by Ohio EPA’s H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program. The H2Ohio Rivers Program is a 2023 expansion of Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, initially launched in 2019.
Applicants for these grants could apply for funding for either new salt application equipment technology or storage facility construction. These funds help alleviate costs to local governments across Ohio while allowing them to proactively reduce their environmental impact. This funding will be used for the purchase of three new snow box pushers. One for a backhoe and two for skid steers.
In June 2024, Ohio EPA received over $1.9 million in settlement funds from a case involving the state of Ohio, Cargill, Inc., and Central Salt, LLC, due to environmental contamination from salt runoff. The funds are being used to upgrade road salt application equipment and storage facilities in 32 municipalities throughout Ohio.
Ohio EPA previously awarded two rounds of funding under the H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program, totaling $4.3 million in projects in over 80 communities across Ohio, used from funding from Ohio’s biennium budget.
Recent water quality testing in Ohio has shown increased salt concentrations in waterways, primarily due to the use of road salt. This rise in salt can release nutrients and metals from sediment, harming water quality. Many drinking water facilities rely on river water as their source of drinking water, which requires extra treatment when contaminated with salt. Additionally, road salt can corrode pipes and infrastructure, reducing the lifespan of bridges and paved surfaces.