Ohio Waterways ranked 10th highest in toxic chemicals in US. (Columbus: homes, public school)

[RiverLover11]

Don't need to drink out of our rivers or Lake Erie to get a dose of ecoli, it seems~

COLUMBUS, Ohio - "The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is sending out a warning for people who have Columbus drinking water.

The EPA says some Columbus water contains high levels of E.coli.


The pollutants were found in the Upper Scioto Watershed. It's a small part of the watershed where a lot of the city's drinking water comes from.


E. coli levels there were more than double what's deemed safe for things like kayaking and swimming.
Ohio EPA recommends increasing inspection and monitoring sewer systems to keep the water clean."

E.Coli Found In Some Columbus Drinking Water | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio

(Makes me wonder what fracking chemicals we're ingesting along with possible ecoli. There are 13 poorly monitored toxic waste dumps in Columbus area. Columbus Community Bill of Rights)

[ohioaninsc]

Bacteria Levels Reach Record High At Buckeye Lake | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio

It doesnt' seem like you can really go swim in any of Ohio's lakes or streams...Buckeye Lake is now a cesspool too.


This state needs to get its head out of its ass and clean up our water ways so we can actually enjoy them. What good is a lake if you'll get sick by just swimming in it.

[ohioaninsc]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

No president would have. It's a huge business that employs many thousands of people. Not to mention that the US is still largely dependent on oil (though most of the Gulf stuff gets shipped elsewhere). That's why I say investing in alternatives is the best long-term bet, but until the GOP gets on board with that, it won't matter.

That's why the GOP needs to be utterly defeated asap...wishful thinking I know because half the population in this country are dumb asses that keep voting for them and their failed policies.

[RiverLover11]

Originally Posted by ohioaninsc

Bacteria Levels Reach Record High At Buckeye Lake | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio

It doesnt' seem like you can really go swim in any of Ohio's lakes or streams...Buckeye Lake is now a cesspool too.


This state needs to get its head out of its ass and clean up our water ways so we can actually enjoy them. What good is a lake if you'll get sick by just swimming in it.

Wow, that's an understatement. Their answer to the problem? Acc to the news item you linked, their answer is to keep the beaches at Buckeye Lake open even though the bacteria levels are 40 times (4000%!!) higher than than federal levels for safe swimming...

I'm speechless....& fairly grossed out.

[RiverLover11]

Regarding the massive fish kill from a fracking fire and explosion of 20 trucks on the drill pad. including 5 which contained fracking waste~

Halliburton fracking spill mystery: What chemicals polluted an Ohio waterway? | Grist

Halliburton delayed releasing details on fracking chemicals after Monroe County spill | The Columbus Dispatch

[jbcmh81]

Cleaner water, more fish species returning to Big Darby Creek | The Columbus Dispatch

It's not all doom and gloom.

[RiverLover11]

Love it. Thanks jb!! Its especially good to read there are dragonflies. That's supposed to be the tell-tale sign if a stream or river is healthy or not.

[ohioaninsc]

Hopefully the work being done near Campus on the Olentangy River and downtown on the Scioto River will get those waterways cleaned up.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by ohioaninsc

Hopefully the work being done near Campus on the Olentangy River and downtown on the Scioto River will get those waterways cleaned up.

There have been studies around the state on rivers where other low-head dams were removed. In all cases, water quality improved significantly once they were gone, so expect the same to happen to the Olentangy/Scioto rivers. It may take a few years, but they will likely see more diversity return. In fact, there was an article not long ago that there is already evidence of that in the Scioto. Also, the sewer project ongoing in the city will completely eliminate sewage overflows going into these rivers, which happens multiple times a year at least. So that will help as well.

[ohioaninsc]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

There have been studies around the state on rivers where other low-head dams were removed. In all cases, water quality improved significantly once they were gone, so expect the same to happen to the Olentangy/Scioto rivers. It may take a few years, but they will likely see more diversity return. In fact, there was an article not long ago that there is already evidence of that in the Scioto. Also, the sewer project ongoing in the city will completely eliminate sewage overflows going into these rivers, which happens multiple times a year at least. So that will help as well.

Just the greenery being planted on the new rivers edges should help clean them up...it's ugly now but I can't wait to see the Olentangy by campus in a decade or so once the trees and bushes and wildflowers really take hold.