Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Corner (Photo Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

This summer’s drought was a wake-up call for tri-state citizens who take our water resources for granted. Areas across the USA suffered from droughts, but SE Ohio and parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania broke records for deficits of rainfall. More than half of Ohio saw some degree of “drought designation.” Ryan Fogt, a climatologist and meteorology professor at Ohio University, said “It’s really kind of uncommon actually for Ohio.” Our home in Harrison County, Ohio, remains in the exceptional drought range. West Virginia was no different; experiencing the worst drought in over two decades. “The USDA reported the condition of corn, soybeans, apples, and peaches were in very poor, poor, and fair categories, with none in the good or excellent categories.” Farmers in West Virginia and Ohio had to buy feed for livestock as their pastures dried up. Some sold livestock and others dipped into winter feed. Designated areas were set up in the tri-state region to allow farmers access to water for their livestock. We saw these areas along Tappan Lake where we live. Streamflow, groundwater levels, lake levels, and reservoir levels dipped lower and lower as the summer progressed.

The Tappan Lake region has been in an exceptional drought since July. June saw record numbers of over 90-degree days with literally no substantial rainfall. “As of October 25, there have been 36 days this year where the high temperature has reached at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Columbus, Ohio. The last time it reached at least 90° F was September 22, 2024.”

The heat and lack of rain have taken a toll on farmers, and others as well. Woodland streams dried up altogether. Most rural residents rely on well water or in some cases spring water for their water source. We installed a 700-gallon cistern to use for watering our large garden, but without rainwater, that water source was eventually depleted. We went into water conservation mode and stored our wash water in a greywater tank to use for our tomatoes. There was no car washing or any unnecessary use of water.

Sadly, as this drought continues, the oil and gas industry also continues to remove surface water from our region for fracking. Water hoses and pumps can be seen located close to fracking wells as they withdraw water from woodland streams. The USGS estimates that between 1.5 and 16 million gallons of water can be used per fracked well.

The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators said, “Watersheds where the greatest amount of water was used for fracking include those found in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations covering parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York.”

A recent 2023 study from Ohio Northern University found, “fracking is episodically reducing small Eastern Ohio River basin stream levels,” and though stream flow reductions occur infrequently, they “could have lasting negative impacts on the stream biota and have the potential to affect downstream users, including regionally-endangered species.

The stream ecosystem might be severely impacted.” Christopher Spiese, one of the researchers, said “I was also naively surprised at how difficult it was to find water source locations for well pad permits,” noting that the amount of fracking in Ohio makes it “almost impossible” to determine where the fracking water is coming from specifically.

The area’s lakes also saw significant impacts from the drought. Boat docks at Tappan Lake buckled as the water levels dropped and low lake levels left boats stranded at Atwood Lake. At one point the water sales conducted by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District to Encino Energy for its well pads at Atwood Lake was reduced by 75%, to 500,000 gallons a day, down from 2,000,000 gallons a day. The MWCD also sells water from Leesville Lake to Encino. The MWCD has a long history of selling water to fracking companies; dating back to 2012.

After environmental concerns about water withdraws were expressed in 2012, the MWCD signed an agreement with USGS to do a study of three lakes, Tappan, Leesville, and Atwood for water usage issues. The report however, “assumed historical lake operations were successful in maintaining seasonal pool levels.” Currently, Tappan Lake elevation is 897.4 feet above sea level and two feet below summer pool levels of 899.3 feet. The lake has been below summer pool all season. Studies need to reflect the ongoing possibility of these droughts.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, “any facility with the capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day (70 gallons per minute) must register that facility with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources.” Private property owners who have access to surface water are also trying to cash in on water sales. This can be seen along Route 800 near Dennison, Ohio where local residents and businesses with access to water have set up “commercial operations” to sell water.

To add insult to injury, that precious clean water will end up as wastewater from fracking well pads. The “brine” trucks hauling wastes to Class II injection wells along the lake roads are a constant reminder of this careless use of our water by out of state oil and gas companies. Water used for fracking becomes forever contaminated with toxic fracking chemicals as well as Radium-226 and Radium-228. This radiation is naturally occurring deep in the bedrock of Marcellus and Utica shales. “The highly-saline composition of the wastewater is responsible for extracting radium from the shale and for bringing it to the surface.” These water-soluble isotopes become dissolved in fracking fluids during the process of fracking. The tankers are labeled as being “brine” but they are in reality a toxic, radioactive brew.

It is beyond time to put a stop to this irrational and irresponsible use of our water resources.

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Randi Pokladnik, Ph.D., of Uhrichsville, is a retired research chemist who volunteers with Mid Ohio Valley Climate Action. She has a doctorate degree in environmental studies and is certified in hazardous materials regulations.