A costly sewer project in northeastern Wood County has become more affordable with the approval of $4.42
million in federal stimulus money.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that funding was approved for installing sanitary
sewers in the Stony Ridge and Lemoyne areas of Troy Township.
The region has been under orders to get sewers for many years by the Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency. However, the project has been held up by the $5.2 million pricetag – so high because of the
rocky terrain in the area.
The sewer project will serve about 400 homes in the Stony Ridge and Lemoyne areas. Homeowners will be
required to hook up to the sanitary sewer system.
Due to environmental contamination, the EPA had ordered in 1995 that the area get sewers. However, the
expense was far greater than any available funding, according to Jerry Greiner, executive director of
the Northwestern Water and Sewer District.
"We just couldn’t come up with the right amount of grants and loans to make it affordable," he
said.
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District was recently awarded money under a U.S. EPA request, but the
stimulus funds through the USDA will actually be a better deal, according to Dave Cook, finance director
of the district.
"It’s our intention at this point to use the USDA funds," Cook said Wednesday.
The funding includes $2.47 million in grant money and $1.95 million in a low interest loan for 40 years.

To defray the costs further, and reduce the amount paid by homeowners in the area, the district has
applied for Community Development Block Grant funds. That funding likely won’t be determined before next
year, so the actual construction of the sanitary sewer probably won’t begin until sometime next year,
Cook said.