Wastewater injection wells have been a cause for concern in Washington County for years, leaving the community divided over their necessity in the area. Critics and residents alike raised complaints and concerns regarding the safety of their drinking water and the lack of state regulation.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, injection wells are used to dispose of brine and other wastes produced from “drilling, stimulation and production of oil and natural gas” underground.
Washington County has 17 injection wells, four of which were recently forced to close by state regulators after determinations that fracking by-product had been migrating away from the well, affecting oil and gas wells nearby.
The issue continues to worry residents on both sides of the party aisle, with environmental groups and local Republican officials expressing concerns. Susan Vessels, Republican Marietta City Council president, described why the injection wells are dangerous.
“The problem here in Washington County is that it is regularly coming out of the injection zone through cracks and other avenues, and making it lead up to 2,000 feet, where the Berea wells are, and then through the Berea wells to the surface,” Vessels said. “So that's a problem.”
The brine migration is of major concern to many, with worries the wastewater, which can be toxic and radioactive, might move into and contaminate drinking water aquifers. Vessels said their concerns have not been properly addressed by elected officials in Columbus.
“For over a year, our bipartisan city council has been asking state leaders to enact our simple rule: don't allow oil field waste injection near public drinking water aquifers,” Vessels said. “But you know, our request has largely fallen on deaf ears.”
According to Vessels, the drinking water in Marietta is currently clean, with a new water plant coming to the city soon. However, her concerns remain that if a crack forms in the wrong place underground, the “oil-filled” wastewater will migrate to aquifers.
Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, spent the past week touring Southern Ohio. During a visit to Washington County on Sept. 17, she pledged support for a three-year moratorium on wastewater injection wells in the county.
The moratorium would prevent any more permits from being issued, as well as halt any further fracking injections while the state conducts an investigation into wastewater migration.
According to Kevin Ritter, state representative for Ohio’s 94th District, the moratorium is not necessary, as no new applications have been seen for four years.
“I understand she's running for governor,” Ritter said. “She's dealing with a number of different issues. I don't know if she's aware that there hasn't been a new application for four years. My position is a moratorium is redundant because we're just not seeing applications. So, it’s hard to cut off something that doesn't exist.”
Vessels said there is not enough being done on the state level to monitor and regulate the injection wells.
“That's why Dr. Acton's interest and the promise that she made two weeks ago is so extraordinary,” Vessels said. “The state legislature has stood by, and they're the ones responsible for creating the rules that ODNR has to enact. They've stood by and allowed this injection of oil field waste without consideration for the proximity to public drinking water aquifers.”
Ritter said ODNR is not being transparent enough about their monitoring of the wells, as he has been hearing concerns from constituents for six and a half years. He said the lack of transparency is causing speculation and fear from constituents.
“They've come down, and they've held one public meeting," Ritter said. “I'm sure that there are things going on in their office, but they haven't been very transparent. If there are things going on in their office, I think they need to let the public know to alleviate some of the concern.”
