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COLUMBUS -- The Jefferson County Engineer’s Office was recently awarded $60,000 in the fourth round of grant funding by Ohio EPA’s H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program.
The funds will be used to purchase articulating snow plow blades for the department’s 15 plow trucks. The new blades are more efficient at removing snow from the roadway.
Nearly $1 million is being invested to help Ohio communities reduce chloride pollution from road salt while maintaining safe winter travel.
The H2Ohio Rivers Program, an expansion of Gov. Mike DeWine’s 2019 H2Ohio initiative, supports efforts to decrease excessive salt use and encourages communities responsible for winter road maintenance to adopt best management practices. Through this grant program, applicants can request funding for new salt equipment or the construction of salt storage facilities to ease costs for local governments.
Ohio EPA has awarded more than $975,000 in the latest round of H2Ohio chloride reduction grants, supporting 15 projects statewide. Grants of up to $75,000 will help municipalities purchase equipment or enhance salt storage to protect water quality.
“Protecting Ohio’s water from salt contamination requires practical, common-sense solutions,” DeWine said. “By helping communities upgrade equipment and improve salt storage practices, we are protecting our waterways and easing the financial burden on local taxpayers.”
“The last three years have shown us an overwhelming need for this funding,” Ohio EPA Director John Logue said. “They have also shown undeniable progress made by awarding these H2Ohio dollars and empowering municipalities to put them to good use.”
Ohio EPA is excited about the Jefferson County Engineer’s Office’s commitment to reducing salt in their community and protecting Ohio’s waterways, they said.