AKRON, Ohio - Akron is receiving $511,000 in low-interest and principal forgiveness loans from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pay for wastewater and drinking water improvements.

The money will go toward two projects: upgrades at the Eastwood Pumping Station and a study designed to assess problems in the Hawkins, Hackberry and Grand Park service areas.

The funding is part of $97 million in low-interest and principal forgiveness funding the Ohio EPA approved between July 1 and Sept. 30 to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure in communities in Northeast Ohio. In total, the lower interest rates and forgiven principal will save the communities more than $14.7 million.

The EPA approved $55.8 million for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, which encompasses communities in Cuyahoga County and northern Summit County. Funding will go toward the construction of relief sewers in the London Road and Doan Valley areas to help address combined sewer overflows.

Project funding is provided by the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, which offers below-market interest rate loans for community, non-community public and nonprofit drinking water systems, and the Ohio EPA's state revolving fund loans.

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