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Division of Drinking and Ground Waters Source Water Assessment and Protection Program



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Why Protect Drinking Water?

kidsProtecting drinking water is a top priority in Ohio. A 1995 statewide survey of citizens indicated that Ohioans rank drinking water quality as one of the top three environmental concerns facing Ohio. Another statewide survey conducted in 1998 indicated that 90% of Ohioans consider the quality of drinking water to be a "very important" water resource issue. This was the highest ranking of any water resource issue rated in the survey. Beginning in the 1970s, federal environmental laws were passed to address the need for reliable supplies of safe drinking water, primarily by cleaning up contaminated air, soil, and water. In 1986 the Safe Drinking Water Act established health and treatment standards for public drinking water systems. Environmental goals at the national, state, and local levels are now shifting to protecting resources from potential future damage.
 

Costs of water treatmentBecause safe drinking water is a necessity to everyone, Ohio EPA considers protecting this valuable resource to be a primary goal. Thanks in part to drinking water treatment, design of treatment systems, certification of plant operators, and regulations on contaminants, public water systems in this country set the world standard for providing safe drinking water to the public.

In addition to the concern for public health, the economic costs incurred by a public water system when its drinking water source becomes contaminated also can be devastating. For example, since trichloroethylene was first detected in the local drinking water supply wells at the City of New Philadelphia, Ohio, the city and the party responsible for the contamination have spent approximately $1 million for investigations, treatment, and monitoring, and over $20,000 in additional annual expenses.

Because of this, protecting drinking water at its source has become a top priority. Sources of drinking water include portions of aquifers (water-bearing rocks and sediments), as well as lakes, streams, and reservoirs.

For more information, visit U.S. EPAs website at:http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater.
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Contact the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049
Street Address: 50 West Town Street, Suite 700 Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-2752 ~ Fax: (614) 644-2909 ~ E-mail
Emergency Contacts ~ Staff Contacts and Expertise ~ Electronic Mailing Lists
Emergency Response Hotline (800) 282-9378
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