'Dangerous Pollutants' In Ohio Drinking Water, Lawmakers Want Change

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio is one of the few states in the U.S. that allows radioactive wastewater from oil and gas wells to be used as de-icing spray in the winter. New legislation could soon change that and implement other measures to protect Ohio drinking water.

During a news conference on Tuesday, state Rep. Mary Lightbody, a Democrat from Westerville, urged her peers in the Ohio General Assembly to pass three proposed laws that would prohibit the use of radioactive brine from oil and gas wells as de-icing spray, require the Ohio EPA to implement new statewide drinking water standards, and limit confined animal farm construction near the Maumee Watershed — an attempt to prevent future harmful algae blooms.

The proposals are contained in House Bill 579, House Bill 349 and House Bill 365. Enacting the proposals would have no cost for state government, Lightbody added.

“Our waterways are Ohio’s most precious resource. We must establish standards and eliminate dangerous pollutants to protect our drinking water for the health and well-being of current and future Ohioans,” Lightbody said during a news conference on Tuesday.

Radioactive De-Icing?

The Ohio Department of Transportation came under fire for several years for its use of AquaSalina, a de-icing chemical made with wastewater from oil and gas wells. Controversy ensued after a report said the product contained radioactive Radium 226 and 228, News 5 reported.

ODOT stopped using the product in late 2021, largely because it began making its own de-icer. But lawmakers like Lightbody want to make sure all future de-icing products are safe for Ohioans and their drinking water.

"We must cease the practice of spreading radioactive waste from vertical oil and gas wells on Ohio's roads and highways," Lightbody said on Tuesday. She then urged lawmakers to quickly bring her legislation forward for consideration.

If House Bill 579 is passed, it would explicitly prohibit the use of brine from vertical oil and gas wells. During the news conference, Lightbody said allowing the brine to be used on Ohio roadways threatens both ground and surface water in the Buckeye State.

Farms and Blooms

House Bill 349 would limit new confined animal feeding farms until phosphorous levels have been reduced by 40 percent in the Maumee Watershed.

“One of the most pressing issues Ohio faces is the recurrence of harmful algae blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie. We have seen firsthand the disruptions they can cause, most notably in 2014 when 400,000 Ohioans were impacted by a boil advisory due to the algal blooms," said state Rep. Michael Sheehy, a Democrat from Toledo.

He added that the legislation is not meant to be an attack on agriculture or industry in the Buckeye State, but he argued commercial farms have contributed to algae blooms.

New Ohio EPA Standards

If House Bill 365 is passed, the Ohio EPA would need to set drinking water standards for the following contaminants:

• Chromium-6
• 1,4-dioxane
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

"Ohio should not wait to set limits on PFAS chemicals," said Melanie Houston, drinking water director for the Ohio Environmental Council. "Instead, we should join a growing number of states taking action to protect our residents, especially our children."

Patch has previously reported on the presence of PFAS in Ohio drinking water. PFAS are man-made chemicals found in industry and consumer products across the globe dating to the 1950s. They were used in nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing and stain resistant fabrics and carpets, as well as certain cosmetics and firefighting foams. Additionally, PFAS were found in products that resist grease, water and oil, the federal agency said.