Nick McWilliams reporting – A collection of municipalities in a five-county span will receive water infrastructure grants from a $114 million distribution.
Through the Ohio Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development program, known as Ohio BUILDS, areas in Tuscarawas, Holmes, Carroll, Stark, and Harrison Counties are in the list of 58 counties receiving money this cycle.
For drinking water infrastructure improvements, the village of Gnadenhutten is set for a $1.5 million grant to remove their current water treatment system and install a new system to serve the more than 1,250 people in the area. Sugarcreek will also receive over $608,000 for an expansion of their water treatment plant with an additional water softener to benefit over 2,200 residents.
Holmes County received the largest grant locally at $4.35 million for a waterline extension from State Route 29 and Cherry Ridge Road to the Tusc County line. Additionally, the Cherry Ridge Water Works will be taken over by the Walnut Creek Water Company to eliminate the system and expand services to 132 residents with 20,000 foot of new line, a 100,000 water storage tank, and the replacement of fire hydrants and more.
Carrollton will receive drinking water and wastewater improvement grants, with $212,000 for waterline replacements to prevent future ruptures in their treatment plant, and $57,000 to improve sanitary collection lines for their sewer system.
In other wastewater work, Bowerston is slated for over $3.5 million in grants to overhaul their system, replacing a combined 21,500 feet of lines, 80 manholes, and renovations to wastewater lagoons, airlines, and blowers.
Also in Harrison County, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District will utilize a $1.7 million grant for a 12,000-gallon per day plant with two pump stations for their restrooms, rental cabins, and RV areas at Clendening Marina.
To the north in Stark County, North Canton will extend their sanitary sewer to an area not currently served by way of $938,000 state dollars.
More grant distributions are expected in the future.
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