Water treatment company seeks permit renewal for second Licking County plant

ALEXANDRIA, Ohio (WCMH) -- Months after 200 people filled a small church to protest a wastewater treatment facility in Licking County, an older proposal is about to get a second look.

Licking Regional Water -- formerly the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District -- will have a public hearing Jan. 23 with the state Environmental Protection Agency to renew a permit allowing a wastewater facility off State Route 310. The permit was first approved in 2019, but the facility was never built.

According to plans, the wastewater treatment plant would discharge into Pet Run, a small river that feeds into Raccoon Creek. This is the second permit for a wastewater treatment plant filed by Licking Regional Water this year, and the first faced similar community concerns because it, too, would have fed into Raccoon Creek through Moots Run.

According to Alexandria’s 2023 Water Quality Report, Alexandria and Granville both rely on wells supplied by Raccoon Creek. The governments of Alexandria, Granville and Johnstown have spoken out about the rapid growth of the region brought on by Intel and other incoming tech companies. They have even combined forces to offer their own competing water and wastewater facilities with the aim of keeping resources locally controlled.

During a Licking Regional Water board meeting on Nov. 27, members discussed the never-built Pet Run plant. Executive Director James Roberts said once Intel was announced, it was determined the plant would not be big enough. However, the state permit granted in 2019 expired in August, so board members prepared for the renewal meeting in January.

With the renewal, Licking Regional Water has two possible wastewater treatment plants in the work. In November, Roberts confirmed to NBC4 the company is still working on its Moots Run facility that would feed into Raccoon Creek.

"We plan to have a discussion with OEPA to ensure we fully understand all of the comments, and then we will finalize and submit our updated permit application," Roberts said. "We intend to have this completed before the end of the year."

The Ohio EPA hearing for the renewed permit will take place Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Church of Christ at Alexandria, the same location as the July hearing. According to documents, written and oral comments will be heard during the hearing, and people can submit written arguments through Jan. 30 by email.