Ohio EPA Awards Goshen Township $57,000 in Grant Funding

Goshen Township's New Permanent Salt Bin

Funding from H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program

​In May of 2024, Goshen Township was awarded $57,000 in grant funding by Ohio EPA’s new H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program. This funding was used to build a permanent salt bin for maintenance of township roads. 

​The H2Ohio Rivers Program is an expansion of Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative. Part of the program is to reduce excessive road salt usage and encourage communities and jurisdictions responsible for winter road and surface maintenance to adopt salt best management practices. Applicants for these grants were able to apply for funding for either new salt equipment or storage facility construction to help alleviate costs to local governments across Ohio. 

In May 2024, Ohio EPA announced 31 communities received $1.6 million in funding during the first round, which had over 260 applicants. 

Recent water quality testing has shown that Ohio’s waterways are seeing an increase in salt concentrations, primarily due to the use of road salt. Salt can also cause nutrients and metals to detach from sediment, decreasing water quality. There are many drinking water facilities across the state that utilize river water for their source of drinking water. Water that is contaminated with road salt requires additional treatment. Additionally, road salt can cause issues with corrosion in pipes, valves, and other drinking water equipment.  Road salt also corrodes infrastructure like bridges and shortens the life of paved surfaces.
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Ohio EPA is excited about Goshen Township’s commitment to reducing salt in their community and protecting Ohio’s waterways.