Pierce Township Service Department was recently awarded $48,116 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 to upgrade a new snowplow truck with a central hydraulic system, spreader, roadwatch air and surface temp sensor and pre-wetting system.

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.