State Profile: Ohio Water Market

Ohio, bordered by Lake Erie and the Ohio River, is a water-rich state with abundant surface water and groundwater resources that have long supported its agricultural, industrial, and urban economies. With approximately 12 million residents, Ohio relies on a balanced mix of roughly 50% surface water sources and 50% groundwater sources. Over the next 20 years, the state will require nearly US$30.7 billion to repair, expand, and maintain its infrastructure for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. Access to safe and reliable drinking water is inconsistent across the state, particularly in rural Appalachian communities, which face severe infrastructure and sanitation challenges.

Sample Takeaways:

• Ohio’s capital cycle is being reshaped by load growth rather than just aging assets or compliance issues
• State funding retreats just as federal dollars concentrate on a single problem
• Pipe and plant projects are the core spending categories
• Alternative delivery is opening up for the largest projects