Delaware County Just Expanded Something Most Homebuyers Never Think About: Wastewater Capacity
Ribbon cuttings usually happen for the things we can see: new restaurants, roads, schools, parks and businesses.
But one of Delaware County's latest ribbon cuttings celebrates infrastructure most residents will hopefully never see at all.
The county has completed a major renewal and expansion of the Olentangy Environmental Control Center, a wastewater treatment facility located along State Route 315 near Powell.
And while wastewater treatment probably isn't making anyone's list of reasons to fall in love with a neighborhood, this project matters considerably to the future of southern Delaware County.
Why?
Because communities can't continue adding homes, businesses and jobs unless the infrastructure underneath all that growth can handle them.
What Is the Olentangy Environmental Control Center?
The Olentangy Environmental Control Center, or OECC, is part of the Delaware County Regional Sewer District and serves portions of southern Delaware County.
The facility, located at 10333 Olentangy River Road in Powell, has been part of Delaware County's wastewater infrastructure for decades.
According to Delaware County, the original large-scale facility was built there in 1979 and replaced with another facility at the same site in 1994.
As Delaware County grew, however, its infrastructure needs grew with it.
The county broke ground on the OECC Renewal Project in 2022 as part of a larger wastewater master plan adopted by the Delaware County Commissioners in 2017.
Why Did Delaware County Need to Expand It?
This is where the project becomes a real estate story.
Delaware County says the facility was rebuilt and expanded specifically to accommodate increasing demand for sewer service in Liberty Township, Orange Township and important growth corridors along Sawmill Parkway and U.S. 23.
Think about how much these areas have changed.
More neighborhoods.
More businesses.
More traffic.
More schools and community services.
And more people flushing toilets, running dishwashers, taking showers and doing all the ordinary things that require an enormous infrastructure system behind the scenes.
Growth doesn't happen simply because developers find available land.
There also has to be sufficient capacity to serve that development.
This Was a Major Infrastructure Investment
When Delaware County broke ground on the project in 2022, the county described it as approximately a $40 million project and said it had received a $5 million Ohio BUILDS Water Infrastructure Grant through the Ohio Department of Development.
The county also used an alternative design and construction process that it said allowed the project scope to expand by more than 20% while remaining near its original cost.
By April 2026, county commissioners were highlighting the expansion as one of the significant county building projects nearing completion.
That's a substantial investment in something most of us drive past without ever noticing.
What Does Wastewater Infrastructure Have to Do With Real Estate?
More than most people realize.
When buyers think about a community, they usually look at homes, taxes, commute times, parks, shopping, restaurants and other visible amenities.
But underneath every growing community is infrastructure.
That includes:
Water
Sewer
Roads
Electricity
Stormwater systems
Broadband
Public safety facilities
If those systems don't keep pace with population and development, growth eventually runs into a wall.
Wastewater capacity is particularly important because the ability to provide sewer service can influence where development is feasible and how densely an area can ultimately develop.
That doesn't mean this project automatically opens every nearby parcel to development. Zoning, land use, utility service boundaries, road capacity and government approvals still matter.
But adequate infrastructure is one of the foundational pieces.
Why This Matters in Orange and Liberty Townships
The location is especially interesting because of the communities the facility serves.
Southern Delaware County has experienced tremendous residential and commercial development, particularly around Orange Township, Liberty Township, Powell, Lewis Center, Sawmill Parkway and the U.S. 23 corridor.
Delaware County itself describes investments in roads, sewer infrastructure and economic development as part of its strategy for managing growth. In its 2026 annual reporting, county leaders specifically pointed to infrastructure investments as drivers of planned development.
That's important context.
The county isn't simply reacting to today's population.
It's preparing infrastructure for what comes next.
This Is Part of a Much Bigger Central Ohio Infrastructure Story
Wastewater isn't the only major utility investment happening in Delaware County.
The City of Columbus is also developing a fourth water treatment plant along the Scioto River in Delaware County near Home Road and State Route 745.
Columbus says population and industrial growth, along with the need for additional system reliability, drove the need for more drinking-water capacity. That facility is targeted to come online by the end of 2028.
Put those projects together and you begin to see the bigger picture.
Central Ohio's growth isn't just producing new subdivisions and businesses.
It's requiring billions of dollars of long-term thinking about the systems necessary to support them.
Does New Sewer Capacity Mean More Development Is Coming?
Possibly, but this needs some nuance.
Infrastructure capacity can make future development possible, but it does not guarantee that a specific property will be developed or rezoned.
That's an important distinction for homeowners.
A sewer expansion doesn't suddenly mean the farm behind your house becomes a subdivision next year.
Local zoning, comprehensive plans, utility availability, road infrastructure, environmental considerations and individual development proposals all play a role.
But when I'm helping someone evaluate property in a rapidly growing area, infrastructure investment is absolutely something I pay attention to.
It tells us something about where communities are preparing for future demand.
What Should Homebuyers Pay Attention To?
If you're buying in one of Central Ohio's growth corridors, don't only ask:
"What's here now?"
Ask:
"What's planned?"
Look at proposed roads.
Look at zoning.
Look at sewer and water expansion.
Look at nearby commercial development.
Look at comprehensive land-use plans.
And pay attention to major public infrastructure projects.
One of the biggest mistakes buyers can make is assuming that because the view behind a home is a cornfield today, it will always be a cornfield.
Sometimes it will.
Sometimes it absolutely won't.
Doing the homework before buying gives you a much clearer picture of what you're purchasing.
What Does This Mean for Existing Homeowners?
For homeowners, infrastructure investment is generally a sign that local government is planning for continued demand and growth.
But it doesn't automatically mean your home's value goes up.
Real estate values are influenced by a much broader combination of supply, demand, location, taxes, schools, property condition, interest rates, neighborhood characteristics and buyer preferences.
What infrastructure can do is support the long-term functionality of a growing community.
And in a county growing as quickly as Delaware County, that's not a small thing.
The Bottom Line
A renovated wastewater treatment plant isn't going to get the same attention as a new restaurant or shopping development.
But it may ultimately be far more important.
Delaware County's investment in the Olentangy Environmental Control Center is part of the infrastructure required to support continued growth in Orange Township, Liberty Township, Powell, Lewis Center and the U.S. 23 and Sawmill Parkway corridors.
It's another reminder that understanding Central Ohio real estate means looking beyond houses.
Roads matter.
Utilities matter.
Zoning matters.
Infrastructure matters.
Because today's infrastructure decisions help shape where and how Central Ohio can grow tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Olentangy Environmental Control Center?
The OECC is a Delaware County Regional Sewer District wastewater treatment facility located at 10333 Olentangy River Road near Powell. The site has served Delaware County's wastewater needs for decades and has now undergone a major renewal and expansion.
Why was the wastewater treatment facility expanded?
Delaware County says the project was designed to handle increasing demand for sewer service in Liberty and Orange townships and important growth corridors along Sawmill Parkway and U.S. 23.
How much did the project cost?
When Delaware County broke ground in 2022, it described the OECC Renewal Project as approximately a $40 million investment. The project also received a $5 million grant through the Ohio BUILDS Water Infrastructure Grant Program.
Does expanded sewer capacity mean more houses will be built?
Not automatically. Sewer capacity is one component necessary to support development. Zoning, utility service availability, road capacity, land-use plans and government approvals also determine whether and where new development can occur.
Could the project affect home values?
There isn't a responsible way to say the treatment-plant expansion itself will increase or decrease an individual home's value. Its broader importance is that adequate wastewater infrastructure helps communities accommodate population and economic growth.
What areas could benefit from the additional capacity?
Delaware County specifically identified Liberty Township, Orange Township and the Sawmill Parkway and U.S. 23 growth corridors when describing the need for the project.
Why should homebuyers care about sewer and water infrastructure?
Infrastructure can influence where development occurs and how communities grow. Buyers considering rapidly developing areas should investigate utilities, zoning, planned roads and future development rather than evaluating only what surrounds a property today.
Source
This blog was inspired by reporting from The Delaware Gazette, “Ribbon Cut on Renovated Wastewater Treatment Plant in Delaware County,” published August 10, 2026.
Read the original Delaware Gazette article
Project details were additionally verified through official Delaware County information about the Olentangy Environmental Control Center Renewal Project and the county's 2026 State of the County reporting.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, zoning, engineering or development advice. Development plans, utility service areas and infrastructure projects may change. Buyers and property owners should verify current information with the appropriate government agencies.
