ONTARIO — Ontario is taking a closer look at what it would take to control its own wastewater treatment — and how much that future could cost.

The city plans to pursue $216,000 through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) for two separate studies, including one that will examine whether Ontario could own and operate its own wastewater treatment plant.

The funding will cover a $119,000 feasibility study on the potential treatment plant, and a separate $97,000 citywide smoke testing and evaluation project.

The smoke testing project looks for inflow and infiltration, which happens when rainwater and stormwater enter the city’s sanitary sewer system.

City wants answers before making a major decision

Service Safety Director Michael Morton said the feasibility study will examine a potential wastewater treatment plant near the west side of Home Road and north of Longview Avenue.

The study is expected to take about 14 months, Morton said.

The loan carries no interest and has a five-year repayment period. Payments would begin Jan. 1, 2028.

If the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves Ontario to build and operate its own wastewater treatment plant, the city could roll the remaining loan balance into a construction loan for the plant.

Residents would not see a sewer rate increase because of this loan, Morton said. The city’s sewer capital improvement fund can absorb the cost if necessary.

Mayor Josh Bradley said Ontario wants to study its options as the city grows and plans for future development.

“Ontario is doing its due diligence and looking at the long-term needs of our community,” Bradley said.

For now, Ontario will continue its longstanding relationship with Mansfield, which provides wastewater treatment services for the city. Bradley said the city appreciates the relationship and the services Mansfield provides.

Owning its own plant could potentially give Ontario greater control over its wastewater infrastructure, capacity, rates and future expansion, Bradley said.

The study does not commit Ontario to building a treatment plant.

“If the study shows that this potential project is not financially feasible, we will continue our relationship with Mansfield,” Bradley said.

Before moving forward with construction, Ontario would need to determine whether the project makes technical, financial and environmental sense. The plant would also have to meet Ohio EPA requirements and remain sustainable for residents and businesses over the long term.

Bradley said the city does not yet have a reliable estimate for what building a treatment plant would cost.

“That is one of the reasons we are doing the feasibility study,” he said.

EPA approval would only be one part of a much larger process. Ontario would still need to review the study’s findings, explore financing and funding opportunities, complete engineering and design work and obtain the necessary permits and approvals.

“The goal is to determine what provides the best long-term benefit for our community,” Bradley said. 

Separate project targets aging Rock Road line

In addition, Ontario plans to address an immediate infrastructure need through a separate project.

The city will seek competitive bids for Phase 1 of the Rock Road Lift Station force main replacement project.

A lift station collects wastewater and pumps it until it reaches a gravity sewer line or a treatment facility. The force main is a pressurized pipe that carries wastewater after a lift station pumps it uphill.

Ontario has five lift stations throughout the city.

The existing Rock Road force main dates to 1982. Morton said the line is approaching 50 years old and has experienced multiple breaks.

If the city does not replace the line, Morton said a major failure could cause all sanitary sewer service west of the 309/430 split to lose service.

The estimated cost of Phase 1 is $1.235 million. The project will replace 5,750 feet of C900 force main pipe.

The replacement will happen in two phases. Phase 1 will be from Rock Road to the pet cemetery. Phase 2 will begin where Phase 1 ends and continue to behind Emerson, Morton said.

Construction can begin after the city awards the contract and must finish by May 28, 2027.

The project will not require road closures because the work zone sits entirely outside the roadway. However, drivers could encounter temporary lane closures, Morton said.

Bradley called the replacement routine infrastructure maintenance and pointed to the age and history of the line.

“It comes down to making sure that we are maintaining our current infrastructure at the level our residents and businesses deserve and expect,” Bradley said.

The Rock Road project addresses an immediate infrastructure need, while the feasibility study looks at what Ontario’s wastewater system could look like in the future.

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