Concord Township Receives H2Ohio Grant To Reduce Salt Runoff
EATON, OH (April 9, 2025) - Ohio EPA is awarding more than $1.9 million to help Ohio's waters stay safe from salt contamination through Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's H2Ohio initiative.
In total, the H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant program has awarded more than $6 million to 117 communities since the program's launch in 2023.
"H2Ohio continues to help communities better protect our water," Governor DeWine said. "All over Ohio we are assisting local communities with needed equipment and storage options that will reduce the risk of road salt contaminating our waterways."
Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel made the announcement in Eaton on Wednesday. The city is receiving about $50,000 and is one of 32 communities being awarded funding. The money will be used for equipment and storage facility upgrades to help reduce the over-application of de-icing materials on Ohio's roads, which ultimately helps the health of Ohio's waterways.
"When Gov. DeWine launched this program two years ago, we received hundreds of applications," Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel said. "We are honored to partner with more communities through this third round of funding."
Eaton will use the funds to upgrade the last of its seven trucks with salt spreader control systems.
"We're grateful to the Ohio EPA for helping make this equipment upgrade possible," Eaton Mayor Matt Venable said. "The new salt control system will not only improve road safety during winter weather but also enhance operator effectiveness and reduce chloride pollution in our waterways—all while being a smart investment that protects taxpayer dollars."
In June 2024, Ohio EPA received funding as part of a settlement in the Court of Common Pleas of Preble County between the state of Ohio, Cargill, Inc., and Central Salt, LLC after the company's facility caused environmental contamination from salt runoff.
The $1.9 million being awarded today is going to local governments in these 22 counties: Athens, Butler, Clark, Clermont (2 projects), Cuyahoga (2 projects), Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin (2 projects), Greene, Hamilton, Lake (2 projects), Licking (3 projects), Mahoning, Montgomery (4 projects), Portage, Preble, Seneca, Shelby, Summit (2 projects), Warren, Williams, and Wyandot.
H2Ohio is Governor DeWine's statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio's waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water by supporting best farming practices, road salt runoff reduction, litter cleanup, dam removal, land conservation, and water infrastructure revitalization.
For more information, visit h2.ohio.gov.
