Ohio Waterways ranked 10th highest in toxic chemicals in US. (Columbus: construction, disposal)

[RiverLover11]

Had plans to go up to East Harbor State Park beach tomorrow, but then read about how the entire city of Toledo is unable to drink their water due to Algae bloom.

...."The city advised about 400,000 residents in Toledo, most of its suburbs and a few areas in southeastern Michigan not to brush their teeth with or boil the water because that would only increase the toxin's concentration. Showers and baths are fine, the mayor said.

...Toledo asked restaurants to close for the day because of the water warning. Toledo's public school system canceled all its events Saturday.

The University of Toledo closed its campus for the day and encouraged students who are from outside the Toledo area to return to their homes.

Operators of water plants all along Lake Erie, which supplies drinking water for 11 million people, have been concerned over the last few years about toxins fouling their supplies.

...Most water treatment plants along the western Lake Erie shoreline treat their water to combat the algae. The city of Toledo spent about $4 million last year on chemicals to treat its water and combat the toxins.

The annual algae blooms have been concentrated around the western end of Lake Erie. The algae growth is fed by phosphorous mainly from farm fertilizer runoff and sewage treatment plants, leaving behind toxins that can kill animals and sicken humans."

'Do Not Drink, Do Not Boil' Advisory Issued For Toledo And Lucas County | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio


I thought maybe it was just in that far western basin of Lake Erie, Maumee, but not so~

"There also is a bloom in the Sandusky Bay, but algae tends to begin growing there early in the season each year, scientists have said.

Locally, recent signs have been erected to warn beach-goers of the dangers of blue-green algae in Lake Erie at East Harbor State Park."
Harmful algae has begun blooming on Western Basin

[ohioaninsc]

Terrible situation

[RiverLover11]

It truly is. This is not a good situation at all. Can you imagine what its like at Toledo hospitals?

I hope this wakes people up to the fact that we need to regulate ourselves & industry regarding chemical use because without clean water, we got nothing. Its just scary.

[ohioaninsc]

Fertilizers need to be banned until they can produce non toxic ones...go back to organic farming...if you need fertilizer to make it grow, then you shouldn't be planting it...and jail these farmers who allow this crap to run off into creeks and rivers...they are the cause of these annual algae blooms Lake Erie...in the 60s and 70s, the reason was the phosphorous found in many things like detergent and other manufacturing processes...then they banned its use in those products...they need to ban farmers from using it now.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by ohioaninsc

Fertilizers need to be banned until they can produce non toxic ones...go back to organic farming...if you need fertilizer to make it grow, then you shouldn't be planting it...and jail these farmers who allow this crap to run off into creeks and rivers...they are the cause of these annual algae blooms Lake Erie...in the 60s and 70s, the reason was the phosphorous found in many things like detergent and other manufacturing processes...then they banned its use in those products...they need to ban farmers from using it now.

It's not just chemical fertilizers. Organic animal waste produces phosphorus too. The problem is that regulations for runoff are weak at best. The situation with Big Darby Creek proves that waterways can improve pretty fast if there are protections and regulations in place. Ohio lawmakers have every reason now to implement some against farmers and factories that aren't doing everything necessary to protect water sources. The situation is embarrassing to a state that made so much progress since the 1960s. This could ultimately be the best thing that's happened to the state's water since the Clean Water Act... if the situation produces serious results.

[jbcmh81]

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...rtilizers.html

[ohioaninsc]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

It's not just chemical fertilizers. Organic animal waste produces phosphorus too. The problem is that regulations for runoff are weak at best. The situation with Big Darby Creek proves that waterways can improve pretty fast if there are protections and regulations in place. Ohio lawmakers have every reason now to implement some against farmers and factories that aren't doing everything necessary to protect water sources. The situation is embarrassing to a state that made so much progress since the 1960s. This could ultimately be the best thing that's happened to the state's water since the Clean Water Act... if the situation produces serious results.

With the Republicans in charge of all levels of state government, do you really expect them to make any necessary changes? I mean it's only water, why not just sell more bottled water in their minds.

[RiverLover11]

That's so funny(in the dark comedy sense), and true! Ie, one oil company said that we shouldn't be so upset when there are oil/chemical spills because it CREATES JOBS for locals to clean it up!!

They just think on a completely plane...different universe. A very selfish ugly universe.

[RiverLover11]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...rtilizers.html

Just read this informative article, jb. Thanks for posting. So glad they mentioned how politicians have been "kow towing" to the farm lobby. This can't be voluntary, obviously. We need mandatory laws to protect our drinking water.

Below is another article from today. Apparently, scientists have been telling the powers that be in Ohio for years that stopping the ag run-off would fix our algae problem. Like you said, maybe the Toledo disaster was a blessing in disguise, waking people up to the seriousness of this.

No fast fix for Ohio

[bluecarebear]

Organic farming practices are actually hurting the lake. Farmers are using more manure and not tilling.

Ohio is also getting more storms. The rain washes everything into the sewers and rivers.