Ground Water Support to Ohio EPA Programs Cover to a water meter

The Division of Drinking and Ground Waters supports other Ohio EPA Divisions with ground water issues related to municipal solid waste landfills, regulated and unregulated hazardous waste sites, and wastewater facilities. Information and data is evaluated to determine the adequacy of hydrogeologic characterization and ground water investigations.  The recommendations assist the divisions in making decisions regarding permitting, compliance, corrective actions, and enforcement. DDAGW also assists in the development of rule, policy and guidance. The mission is to protect ground water resources by providing support that is consistent and technically sound.

The divisions supported on ground water issues include:

The Division of Materials and Waste Management (DMWM) ensures proper handling of wastes and promotes reuse and recycling of materials and waste generated in Ohio. The division issues permits to regulate hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities. They also issue permits, licenses and/or registrations to regulate solid waste disposal facilities, transfer facilities, composting facilities, scrap tire facilities, construction and demolition disposal landfills, infectious waste disposal facilities. The division oversees state and local planning for long-term solid waste management. In addition, they inspect hazardous waste and infectious waste generators and the facilities subject to permits, registrations and licenses.
The Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) oversees investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites through enforcement and its Voluntary Action Program (VAP) as well as corrective actions at hazardous waste sites regulated under RCRA. The division responds to and oversees cleanup of emergency releases and spills to the environment. It also provides assistance to companies and communities who clean up and reuse brownfield sites.
The Division of Surface Water (DSW) ensures compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and issues permits to regulate wastewater treatment plants, factories and storm water to reduce the impact of pollutants.
The Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA) finances municipal wastewater treatment projects and other projects improving water quality and drinking water projects through low-interest revolving loan programs. Eligible projects include building or renovating drinking water plants, wastewater plants or sewers; restoring aquatic habitat; improving home sewage disposal systems; and best management practices for agriculture or forestry to reduce and prevent water pollution.
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Technical Guidance Manual (TGM) for Hydrogeologic Investigations and Ground Water Monitoring

TGMThe TGM identifies technical considerations for performing hydrogeologic investigations and ground water monitoring at potential or known ground water pollution sources. The purpose of the guidance is to enhance consistency within the Agency and inform the regulated community of the Agency’s technical recommendations and the basis for them. In Ohio, the authority over pollution sources is shared among various Ohio EPA divisions, including the Divisions of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR), Materials and Waste Management (DMWM), Surface Water (DSW), Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA), as well as other state and local agencies.

This technical guidance is a series of PDF documents and was originally published in 1995. These documents will be periodically updated and the most current versions can be downloaded from the list below. The current version will contain a summary of major changes. DDAGW will archive older documents and maintain their availability (See Archives section below).

Technical Guidance Manual Chapters

**DRAFT Chapter 3 (April 2012). A pdf redline-strikeout version is available showing the proposed changes.

Note: Chapter 1 (Introduction) and Chapter 2 (Regulatory Authority) are no longer part of the TGM series of documents. Chapter 1 provided a list of authorities for various pollution sources. This information can be found in Ohio EPA’s fact sheet Getting to Know Ohio EPA. Chapter 2 provided a regulatory overview of Ohio EPA’s programs that may require ground water monitoring and/or hydrogeologic investigations. Information concerning Ohio EPA’s programs and rules is available.

**See U.S. EPA’s Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities-Unified Guidance, March 2009 for ground water statistical guidance.

Archived versions of the Technical Guidance Manual for Hydrogeologic Investigations and Ground Water Monitoring (TGM)

This page provides links to older versions of the TGM are provided in the event that they are applicable to a particular program rule. For example the TGM is cited in the following rule; therefore, the TGM version available at the time when the rule was promulgated is associated with that rule.

Archived TGM Documents

Guidance Documents

Click here to view the complete list of policies and guidance documents produced by the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters.

Ground Water Wells

Agency-wide

Division of Materials and Waste Management (DMWM) Guidance Documents issued by DDAGW

Division of Surface Water (DSW) Guidance Documents issued by DDAGW

Contacts

Questions concerning ground water conditions at a particular regulated site or facility should be directed to DDAGW district staff as appropriate.

General questions about ground water investigative techniques and Ohio EPA rule, policy and guidance, should be directed to DDAGW's Central Office Ground Water Support staff as appropriate: