Genoa: Water tank projects pass EPA review

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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has completed a review of a planned major repair project of two municipal water tanks in the Village of Genoa and has determined it presents no significant impact to the environment.
“This project’s relatively narrow scope and lack of environmental impacts qualifies it for the Limited Environmental Review rather than a more comprehensible Environmental Assessment,” Kathleen Courtright, assistant chief of the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, states in a recent letter to village officials. “Upon issuance of this Finding of No Significant Impact determination, award of funds may proceed without further environmental review or public comment unless new information shows that environmental conditions of the proposed project have changed significantly.”
The village has applied for funding from the Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account for the project.
A 150,000-gallon elevated tank was constructed in 1970 and wasn’t equipped with cathodic protection – a technique used to control the corrosion of a metal surface.
Inspections of the tank in 2009 and 2019 indicated it has sustained interior corrosion damage and pitting that has increased in severity since the 2009 inspection. The tank has also sustained exterior corrosion damage to the roof vent.
“Primary rehabilitation needs for the tank include cleaning and repainting the tank interior, replacing the roof vent, and upgrading of welds and access ladders,” the review says.
The village qualifies for a small-community long-term WSRLA below-market interest rate on 20-year loans. Loan rates are set monthly. This month the rate is 2.12 percent.
The debt will be repaid from Genoa’s Water Operating Fund and include a monthly infrastructure charge.
The project is scheduled to start next spring, said Thomas Bergman, village administrator. He said there will be no disruption of service for residents as the village is also serviced by a 500,000-gallon water tank.
The contractor for the project is American Suncraft, Medway, Ohio.
Bergman said village officials originally planned to seek bids for work on both towers as one project but he pulled the larger tank from the package so the village could apply for OPWC funding for its repairs.
“We should know that outcome this fall or winter. OPWC funds are released on July 1 annually, so it could be a fall 2025 project, but will likely be a spring/summer 2026 project,” he said.
The EPA review also covers the larger tank.