Loveland Secures $14 Million in State Funding for PFAS Drinking Water Treatment

The City of Loveland has secured a major financial commitment from the State of Ohio to help address PFAS in the city's drinking water, with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency awarding the city $4 million in principal loan forgiveness and a $10 million interest-free loan.

The funding will help pay for construction of treatment improvements designed to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, from Loveland's drinking water supply. The city announced the funding on August 14.

The treatment project is currently estimated to cost approximately $17 million, meaning the newly announced assistance could cover a significant portion of the construction expense while reducing the amount that ultimately needs to be financed through water rates or other funding sources. The city said it will continue pursuing additional state and federal funding to further reduce the financial impact on Loveland water customers.

Preparing for New Federal PFAS Standards

Loveland gets its drinking water from a groundwater aquifer that serves residents throughout the city as well as portions of Symmes Township and Miami Township.

According to the city, Loveland's water currently meets all applicable state and federal drinking water standards. However, new federal regulations governing PFAS are on the horizon, and the city has been working for several years to prepare for those requirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new National Primary Drinking Water Regulations establish limits for six PFAS compounds. One of those compounds, PFOS, has been detected in Loveland's source water at levels above the new federal maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion.

Public water systems across the country are required to comply with the new federal PFAS standards by 2031.

PFAS refers to a large group of manufactured chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. They have been used in products including nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, cleaning products, cosmetics and food packaging. Because many PFAS compounds persist in the environment, they have become an increasing concern for drinking water providers and regulators.

Loveland Has Been Planning for Treatment

The city began preparing for the new requirements well before the federal compliance deadline.

In March 2023, city staff partnered with an engineering firm specializing in public water systems to evaluate potential treatment options. Loveland City Council subsequently authorized a comprehensive treatment study in November 2023. The study was completed in June 2024 with financial assistance from the Ohio EPA.

Following the study, the city worked with the Ohio EPA to develop a required General Plan. That plan received approval in May 2025, making Loveland eligible for additional funding assistance.

In July 2025, the Ohio EPA awarded Loveland another $1.3 million in principal loan forgiveness to pay for the design of the PFAS treatment improvements. The city hired AECOM to complete the design, which is expected to be finished by April 2027.

The newly announced $14 million funding package will then help finance construction.

City Says Funding Will Reduce Burden on Residents

Mayor Kathy Bailey highlighted that the funding is an important investment for the city.

“This funding is a significant investment in the future of Loveland's drinking water system,” Bailey said in the city's announcement.

Bailey also credited the Ohio EPA for working with the city as it prepares for the new federal requirements, saying the assistance will help reduce the financial burden on residents while allowing Loveland to continue providing safe drinking water.

With construction currently estimated at $17 million, the city still expects to seek additional financial assistance before the project is completed. Officials say the goal is to minimize the effect of the project on water ratepayers while ensuring Loveland can meet the new federal standards.

For Loveland residents, the announcement represents a significant step forward in a project that will shape the city's water system for years to come. The funding provides the city with substantial help toward the cost of PFAS treatment while giving officials additional time to pursue other sources of funding before construction begins.

The Loveland Daily will continue to follow the city's PFAS treatment project, including its cost, construction timeline, potential impact on water rates and future developments.