Recently I attended the annual Ohio Water Well Conference In Newark, Ohio as we discussed various water issues around the State. I was there to receive my 7 continuing education hours for my EPA water license as well as my registration as a Private water systems contractor. One of the discussions involved ground water usage both present and future. Ohio is one of the States where the legislation Is years behind of where it should be. This is why several large data centers are looking to locate here because of our extremely lax water usage regulations. As far as they are concerned it is still the wild West. Did you realize that large ground water users (Corporate farms, data centers for cooling) don’t even have to register with the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources until their water withdrawal exceeds ONE MILLION gallons a day. Can you imagine a facility drawing a million gallons a day out of some of our aquifers? We, as a group (I am still on the board of The Ohio Water Well Association at the State level) had State legislator James M Hoops come to our board meeting a couple of months ago and discuss this glaring lack of oversight on the State legislature’s part.
You may be saying “so what? I don’t care about ground water and wells because I am on city water or rural water. Uh, I hate to burst your bubble but a little truth here. If you are in the city of Ashland YOU ARE USING WELL WATER. Where do you think Ashland gets its water? We haven’t had a reservoir since 1969. And if you are on Rural water South of Sullivan, or South of Bailey Lakes, you are also on Ashland’s well water. “What? You say “They told me that it was lake Erie water!” No, If you are South of the divide, in the Ohio river watershed, it is illegal for the rural water companies or authorities to pump lake Erie water out of the Erie watershed. Let me say this again: If the rural water association or company is following international treaty and not breaking it, anything South of the water shed divide is purchased from Ashland City and being pumped from their wells to fill their rural water pipes running up and down the roads in the Northern part of the county. So, you had better care about water withdrawal. Here is a nice map showing the divide:
Notice that ¾ of the County is South of the line? It is illegal for the water district to pump Lake Erie water South of that line. So, if all things are equal, anything South of that line is being supplied by The City of Ashland from their wells. There is a permit process that allows some out of watershed usage by the five great lakes States and Ontario, Canada but it is on a limited basis. Conversely, it is illegal to pump water, be it surface or ground water, out of the Ohio river basin North across the line unless there is a permit granted.
As your County Commissioner, I will keep a close eye on the water usage in The County and keep a close eye on the water policies of the State of Ohio. This is just one of the issues in the County I am concerned about. I plan to address multiple issues. But, to do that, I need you to vote for me in the primary on May 5, 2026 and in the General election November 3rd, 2026. I ask for your vote and your financial support. Go to www.jeffhardman.com and scroll to the bottom of the page to donate. I would really appreciate it.