The Ohio EPA has recommended that residents who live near the schools have their private wells tested. Heavener said the Perry County Health Department has been instructed to petition state health officials to test, at state expense, private wells in the vicinity of the schools' wells. Some small communities may need help in paying for safe drinking water. In 1996, the U.S. Congress established a new drinking water state revolving loan fund. Each state develops its own program to dispense these funds.
States receive annual capitalization grants once they meet program requirements.
This new program is similar to the state revolving loan funds that have been available for wastewater systems. However, this program has some significant differences. Much was learned from the wastewater systems program, and drinking water and wastewater systems each have special needs. An intended use plan is adopted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency director for distributing these funds each year after public review and comment.