Licking Regional Water District Receives Five-Year Permit Renewal for Pet Run Wastewater Treatment Center

LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — The Licking Regional Water District (LRWD) has received formal notice from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the Pet Run Wastewater Treatment Center has been renewed through April 30, 2030.

“This permit renewal provides a valuable resource for future planning,” LRWD Executive Director Jim Roberts said. “It allows us to stay ahead of growth and ensure the infrastructure is in place to protect public health, provide clean water and support responsible development.”

While there are no immediate plans to begin construction on the Pet Run facility, the renewed permit gives the district added flexibility for long-term infrastructure planning. It also ensures the district is prepared to meet growing service demands in the years ahead.

The Raccoon Creek Wastewater Treatment Center remains the district’s top infrastructure priority. LRWD continues to dedicate its primary resources and planning efforts to that project, which is expected to support the region’s long-term water and wastewater needs.

LRWD first identified the need for a new wastewater treatment facility along the state Route 161 corridor in a 2018 master planning study. At the time, the Pet Run facility was planned as a 250,000-gallon-per-day plant to serve that area. However, additional planning initiated after Intel announced its development in western Licking County showed the need for greater capacity than originally anticipated.

The district currently operates the Gale Road Environmental Control Facility, which has a permitted capacity of 4.3-million-gallons-a-day. It is in the process of constructing the Wagram Wastewater Treatment Center, which is expected to be completed in spring 2026.