WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15) announced a funding award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to the City of Columbus, Ohio, to improve its wastewater treatment capacity. Congressional resources for this project were secured through bipartisan cooperation and advocacy from Rep. Carey, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, and local community leaders.
This award, which was secured through a Congressional Community Project Funding (CPF) request made solely by Rep. Carey in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24), will support the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Far East Train Project’s effort to expand the wastewater processing infrastructure in the Columbus area.
“As families and businesses continue to flock to Columbus, it is imperative that we have the public utility infrastructure to match our growing demand. This project will help our wastewater infrastructure serve the increasing need,” Rep. Carey said. “I was proud to partner with Mayor Ginther and community leaders in and around Columbus to identify this vital project and deliver Congressional funds to support it. By delivering these resources back to our community, we are cementing Ohio as the destination for families to live and work.”
“I want to thank Representative Carey for securing this important funding. Investing in critical infrastructure is not a partisan issue—it’s about doing what’s right for our communities. This award is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together across the aisle to deliver real results for the people we serve,” Mayor Ginther said.
“With Central Ohio projected to grow to 3 million residents by 2050, it’s essential that we match that growth with strategic investments that ensure our communities thrive. Driving investment to our region is critical to growing not just bigger, but better — by protecting our natural resources, supporting sustainable development, and building the systems our future demands. The City of Columbus’s Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant is exactly the kind of forward-looking project that positions our region for long-term success. We’re grateful to Congressman Carey — a strong partner and proven leader — for his continued commitment to securing the federal support that helps Central Ohio plan smarter and grow stronger,” William Murdock, Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, said.
Full award details can be found below:
- $750,000 EPA CPF award to the Columbus Department of Public Utilities (Columbus, Ohio) for the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Far East Train Project. This project will expand the plant’s primary and secondary treatment capacity to accommodate anticipated growth in central Ohio. The project will maintain and improve water quality in the Scioto River watershed and support between 50 and 100 full-time construction jobs for four years and create four permanent operator/maintenance positions once operational. Currently, the plant treats 114 million gallons of wastewater in an average day, equivalent to 919,000 people’s daily wastewater. This expansion project will support the projected growth in central Ohio of an additional 300,000 people in the sewer shed directly. It will benefit the entire region economically by providing wastewater treatment to new families and businesses interested in moving to the area.