By Megan Alley
Sun staff
The Ohio Public Works Commission awarded a $275,000 grant to the village of Moscow to help fund upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant.
The village will have to put up a $30,000 match for the grant, which has already been figured into the village’s appropriations for this year, according to Administrator David Plummer.
The wastewater treatment plant has experienced high levels of bacteria and chlorine, which can be harmful when released into the Ohio River, according to Plummer.
“The [Environmental Protection Agency] asked us to make some changes to the plant,” said Mayor Tim Sutton. “We’re trying to achieve what they want us to do.”
The village applied for the grant in July and received notice of the award in the fall, according to Plummer.
“One of the things is that we have an algae growth that dies off and gets into the suspended solid,” Sutter explained. “We have to lower that suspended solid, even though it’s algae.”
Suspended solids are physical particles that can clog rivers or channels as they settle because of gravity.
“The engineers are going to come up with a plan to reduce the suspended solid and make our output better,” Sutter said.
The village has contracted with Environmental Engineer Services, Inc., located in Lebanon, to complete the work.
The improvements are expected to be completed by the summer, according to Plummer.
“Financially speaking, this grant funding has really helped us,” he said.
He added, “The increased revenue to fund a much needed capital improvement like this allows us to continue to direct existing funds towards paying down the cost of renovating our community center.”