Ohio Water Pollution: Major Corporate Offenders

The Ohio River, which provides drinking water for approximately 5 million Americans, is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. The river has been used for decades as a dumping ground for toxic chemicals by local cities and industries, including coal-fired power plants, steel manufacturers, and petrochemical plants. In 2020, industrial facilities released over 41 million pounds of toxic pollution into the Ohio River Basin, with a single facility in Rockport, Indiana, dumping nearly 11 million pounds of nitrates into the river. While there have been efforts to improve water quality and hold polluting industries accountable, the river continues to face challenges, including legacy pollution and new industries moving into the area.

Coal, petroleum, and steel industries

The Ohio River, which supplies drinking water to millions of people between Pennsylvania and Illinois, is one of the most endangered rivers in the country. Pittsburgh's coal, petroleum, and steel industries have contributed significantly to the pollution of the Ohio River. While many of these industries have disappeared or declined, the toxins they released, such as mercury, PCBs, and other chemicals, continue to linger in the water, impacting fish and other wildlife. These toxins can cause neurological, developmental, and reproductive issues in both animals and humans, posing serious health risks.

Coal-fired power plants are among the largest contributors of toxic pollution to US waters. They release metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, which can have detrimental effects on human health, including neurological damage, internal organ harm, and cancer. Coal ash ponds, for instance, have been identified as a significant source of pollution, leading some utilities to take steps toward closure and the implementation of wastewater controls to limit their pollution footprint.

The steel industry has also played a role in polluting the Ohio River. In 2020, the steel producer North American Stainless in Carroll County, Kentucky, was reported to have dumped more than 3 million pounds of toxic pollution into the Ohio River Basin, making it the largest industrial polluter in the state that year. This highlights the significant impact of the steel industry on water quality in the region.

Petroleum, or oil, pollution has been a concern for the Ohio River as well. While there is limited specific information available regarding petroleum companies' impact, it is worth noting that the Ohio River has been used for transporting goods, including petroleum products. This increases the risk of accidental spills or discharges, contributing to water pollution. Additionally, petrochemical plants have been identified as sources of toxic pollution in the Ohio River Basin.

It is important to note that the Ohio River's pollution is not solely attributed to a single industry. Various factors, including agricultural runoff, sewage, and climate change, also play a role in degrading the river's health. However, the coal, petroleum, and steel industries have undoubtedly contributed significantly to the Ohio River's pollution, and addressing their impact is crucial for the restoration and protection of this precious water resource.

Hazardous material transportation

The Ohio River, which supplies drinking water to millions of people between Pennsylvania and Illinois, is one of the most endangered rivers in the country. The river is a main way to transport goods, and it gave life to Pittsburgh's coal, petroleum, and steel industries, which sustained the local economy but also polluted the waterways.

Hundreds of companies discharge pollutants into the Ohio River and its tributaries, and the river faces threats from legacy pollution left over from old industries, as well as new industries that have moved into the basin. These companies have permits to release certain amounts of chemicals, but there is allegedly not enough enforcement when companies exceed these amounts.

In addition to industrial pollution, runoff from farms, suburban areas, and urban areas is another major source of water pollution in the Ohio River. Water leaving farmland drains into streams, carrying excess herbicides, pesticides, and nutrients from fertilizers and manure. Road use also results in emissions from vehicle tailpipes and wear particles from tires, which wash off into storm drains and streams.

To address these issues, the Ohio River Foundation (ORF) works with partners to monitor state and federal enforcement of regulations and laws against polluters who violate the law. They also promote the adoption of new science-based water quality standards and practices to protect and improve water quality in the Ohio River and its tributaries.

In terms of hazardous material transportation, Ohio has strict precautions in place for truck drivers transporting hazardous materials within or through the state to limit the risk of public exposure. These include regulating where commercial trucks carrying hazardous materials may be driven and enhanced penalties for standard moving violations. To be allowed to transport hazardous materials, drivers must register annually with the U.S. Department of Transportation and pay the required fee. The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) specify requirements for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce by rail car, aircraft, vessel, and motor vehicle. The HMR applies to each person who performs or causes to be performed functions related to the transportation of hazardous materials, including the determination of basic conditions, filling and labeling packages, preparing shipping papers, handling, loading, securing packages, and transporting the materials. Shippers and receivers of hazardous materials in commerce are required to have specific training that must be documented.

Industrial facilities and power plants

The Ohio River is a source of drinking water for millions of Americans. It is also one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. The river's banks are highly populated and industrialized, and it has been used as a dumping ground by local cities and industries for generations.

Power plants and other industrial facilities released more toxic pollution into the Ohio River Basin than any other watershed in the U.S. in 2020. Industrial discharges from coal-fired power plants, steel and aluminium manufacturers, petrochemical plants, and other businesses accounted for nearly 41 million pounds of toxic pollution released into the Ohio River Basin.

The steel producer North American Stainless in Carroll County dumped more toxic pollution by volume than any other industrial facility in Kentucky in 2020, at more than 3 million pounds.

AK Steel Corporation dumped 4,301,250 pounds of toxic pollution into Ohio's waterways. Its owner, AK Steel Holding Co., spent $739,752 on lobbying in the same year to derail the EPA's plan to restore Clean Water Act protections to 51,000 miles of streams in Ohio.

In addition to the direct pollution from industrial facilities and power plants, the Ohio River also faces the problem of legacy pollution. The toxins dumped by old industries, such as mercury, still impact fish and other wildlife.

There are efforts to restore the ecosystem and confront environmental injustices in the Ohio River Basin. The Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) is developing a plan to restore the basin, addressing urgent threats such as toxic pollution, sewage contamination, runoff, and flooding. The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is fighting to ensure that both new and old polluters follow the law and pay to clean up their messes.

Farmland and urban runoff

Agricultural runoff occurs when water leaves farmland and drains into nearby streams and rivers, carrying with it excess herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers, and manure. While some farmers have implemented practices to mitigate this, such as creating buffer zones around water bodies or adopting chemical injection systems, many farm bureaus resist direct regulation of farm runoff. This resistance, coupled with the lack of understanding of the cumulative effects of chemical discharges on the environment and human health, poses a challenge to managing agricultural runoff effectively.

Urban areas also contribute to runoff pollution. Roads and vehicles emit pollutants through tailpipe emissions and tyre wear particles, which, along with excess herbicides and pesticides, wash into storm drains and streams. Urban development and impervious surfaces prevent natural absorption and filtration, increasing the volume and speed of runoff entering water bodies. This urban runoff carries pollutants, oils, and debris, degrading water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems.

To address these issues, education and incentives are crucial. Educating farmers, landowners, and builders about the impacts of runoff and implementing measures to limit it can help reduce pollution. Additionally, practices such as rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavers, and roof gardens can capture and treat runoff, mitigating its effects on water bodies.

The Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is actively working to address these challenges. They monitor enforcement of regulations, promote science-based water quality standards, and advocate for tighter controls on persistent "forever" chemicals that may be bioaccumulating in the environment and our bodies. ORF's efforts are crucial in protecting and improving water quality in the Ohio River and its tributaries, ensuring safe drinking water and a healthy ecosystem for the communities that depend on it.

Invasive species and climate change

The Ohio River, which supplies drinking water to millions of people between Pennsylvania and Illinois, is one of the most endangered rivers in the country. This is due to pollution from industrial facilities, farms, and other companies that discharge pollutants into the river and its tributaries. Climate change is also a significant factor, with projected hotter summers raising concerns about heat-related health risks and poor air quality.

Invasive species are non-indigenous plants, animals, and microbes that cause ecological harm by living outside their historic, native range. In Ohio, invasive species such as callery pears, wild parsnip, garlic mustard, and feral hogs are threatening native plant communities and natural areas. For example, callery pears can rapidly spread and take over prairies, grasslands, and woodlands, forming thickets that crowd out native species. Garlic mustard outcompetes ephemeral spring wildflowers for sunlight and resources, and feral hogs can destroy habitats and ecosystems. These invasive species have contributed to the decline of 49% of threatened and endangered species in the United States.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate the problem of invasive species in Ohio. Warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall will create ideal conditions for the spread and establishment of invasive species, further endangering native plants and animals. For example, the Karner blue butterfly's larvae feed exclusively on wild blue lupine, which is becoming rarer in Ohio. The Eastern hemlock tree, a keystone species in the Grand River Lowlands wetland system, is also at risk from invasive pests such as the hemlock woolly adelgid, a small aphid-like insect that weakens and kills the trees.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other organizations are working to protect native plants and animals in Ohio by removing invasive species and restoring habitats. TNC has partnered with volunteers and landowners across Ohio to help native plants thrive and sequester carbon, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and protect endangered species. They are also working to raise awareness about the impacts of invasive species and climate change on Ohio's natural areas and the need for immediate action to address these issues.

In summary, invasive species and climate change are significant threats to Ohio's natural areas and ecosystems. The combination of these two factors is expected to have devastating impacts on native plant and animal communities, leading to species relocation or loss. It is crucial to address these issues through education, habitat restoration, and the implementation of science-based regulations and standards to protect and restore Ohio's natural heritage.

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