WINTERSVILLE — A project aimed at providing a backup during water line breaks in Steubenville and Wintersville will be supported by a grant through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Gov. Mike DeWine has announced $650,000 has been awarded to Wintersville for the rehabilitation of a pump station near Main Street and the borders of the municipalities.

Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said Monday the station has been idle since Wintersville began receiving water through Jefferson County.

Kosegi said he, Steubenville City Manager Jim Mavromatis and others met some time ago to discuss how the communities could assist each other when water service to customers is disrupted by one or more line breaks.

He said plans for the project have been developed by W.E. Quicksall and Associates and the engineering firm is expected to seek bids for it.

Kosegi confirmed no local match is required of the grant.

Steubenville City Manager Jim Mavromatis said, “Wintersville took the lead on this because the station is on their property. Because it’s a joint project, we had a good chance of getting the funding,” Steubenville City Manager Jim Mavromatis said.

He expressed appreciation to OEPA officials who visited Jefferson County to offer input.

“It shows the eastern part of the state is not forgotten,” said Mavromatis.

DeWine and OEPA Director Anne M. Vogel announced the grant was part of $16.7 million awarded through the H2Ohio program for 13 water infrastructure projects in many communities.

The governor said, “H2Ohio is making a real difference with the significant investments we are putting into reliable, clean drinking water. The projects being awarded today will have a huge positive impact on hundreds of Ohioans, and that’s what H2Ohio is all about.”

Launched by DeWine in 2019, H2Ohio was designed to support science- and data-driven projects involving in a reduction in algae blooms, litter, road salt runoff and other pollution; improve access to clean drinking water through best farming practices, land conservation, dam removal and revitalization of infrastructure.