Protect Washington County’s Drinking Water
Governor Mike DeWine, Mary Mertz, Director of Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Eric Vendel, Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management
Washington County is a community that thrives on its natural resources, and our drinking water is one of the most precious among them. However, the increasing establishment of injection wells in the area poses a significant threat to this vital resource. Injection wells, which are used to dispose of fracking brine and other waste deep underground, can potentially lead to contamination of groundwater sources. This is a grave concern as our community relies heavily on these water sources for drinking water, agriculture, and maintaining local ecosystems.
The Washington County for Safe Drinking Water group recently formed to raise awareness about the proposed wastewater injection wells near the area surrounding the Marietta and Warren Township drinking water aquifers in Washington County and the threats the wells present to the drinking water and residents. The county takes in the second-highest amount of oil and gas waste in the state - nearly 1/5 of all of the waste coming into the state. Over half of the waste comes from out of state.
Compounding the concern, there are 3 additional injection wells cited within 2 miles of Marietta's drinking water aquifer, and within 5 miles of the Warren Water wells. That's on top of the 4 existing wells within that radius. The wastewater that is coming into the county can contain radioactivity, cancer-causing chemicals, and PFAS compounds. We are tired of being a dumping ground for the region's oil and gas/industrial waste. We can't win this fight without your support.
The City of Marietta recently passed a historic resolution asking for a moratorium on injection wells in the county. Putnam Water and Muskingum Township Trustees did the same. Other water boards in the county are working on passing their own resolutions as well.
We urge State, County, and City officials to prioritize the safety and sustainability of our water resources. Immediate action must be taken to halt the development of new injection wells and rigorously review the operations of existing ones. Let us ensure that we leave a legacy of clean and safe drinking water for future generations.
Join us in safeguarding our community’s health and environment. Sign this petition to demand action from our local leaders and protect our drinking water from the risks posed by injection wells.
Sponsored by
To:
Governor Mike DeWine, Mary Mertz, Director of Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Eric Vendel, Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management
From:
[Your Name]
Washington County is a community that thrives on its natural resources, and our drinking water is one of the most precious among them. However, the increasing establishment of injection wells in the area poses a significant threat to this vital resource. Injection wells, which are used to dispose of fracking brine and other waste deep underground, can potentially lead to contamination of groundwater sources. This is a grave concern as our community relies heavily on these water sources for drinking water, agriculture, and maintaining local ecosystems.
The Washington County for Safe Drinking Water group recently formed to raise awareness about the proposed wastewater injection wells near the area surrounding the Marietta and Warren Township drinking water aquifers in Washington County and the threats the wells present to the drinking water and residents. The county takes in the second-highest amount of oil and gas waste in the state - nearly 1/5 of all of the waste coming into the state. Over half of the waste comes from out of state.
Compounding the concern, there are 3 additional injection wells cited within 2 miles of Marietta's drinking water aquifer, and within 5 miles of the Warren Water wells. That's on top of the 4 existing wells within that radius. The wastewater that is coming into the county can contain radioactivity, cancer-causing chemicals, and PFAS compounds. We are tired of being a dumping ground for the region's oil and gas/industrial waste. We can't win this fight without your support.
The City of Marietta recently passed a historic resolution asking you for a moratorium on injection wells in the county. Other water boards and townships in the county are passing their own resolutions as well.
We stand with these local elected officials and we urge you to immediately place a 3-year moratorium on current and existing wastewater injection wells in Washington County so that a comprehensive, in-depth, rigorous study be done by the ODNR on the suspected brine migration issues reported in the county. This study should also comprehend the full breadth and depth of the threats to drinking water sources in the county. Let us ensure that we leave a legacy of clean and safe drinking water for future generations.
We ask that you serve as a leader in safeguarding our community’s health and environment.