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11/29/2023
WT Staff
HAPPENING NOW
Great Miami River flowing low at Troy
Triad Middle School Sensitive persons advisory issued for arsenic
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 - last updated 4:36 pm EST
Streamflow Situation from USGS Waterwatch based on real time flow monitors across Ohio
Tuesday afternoon we see the Great Miami River throwing low flow values at Troy station, gage height reading 1.65 ft deep at 32 cubic feet per second.
Streamflow monitors are still recording below normal to much below normal volumes and depth across the west side of the state, including the west Lake Erie basin across the divide into the Great Miami River basin of the Mississppi system. East and central Ohio streamflows are rated mostly normal for the season with the odd station reporting below normal.
Drought situation from USGS Waterwatch 7-day average streamflow compared with historic flow for this date
Auglaize and Lower Maumee River watersheds moderate drought hangs on Tuesday. Rain in the forecast this week may bring relief to Toledo area. Water levels in the Maumee River being lower than normal for an extended period of time may contribute to the late season HAB appearing in the Lower Maumee River near Binghamton.
Across the divide, the Great Miami River drainage basin remains below normal Tuesday morning from headwaters in Darke County to the outlet at Hamilton County. No rain in the forecast yet.
The height-of-land divide in Ohio runs from Mercer County in the west angling northeast up to Ashtabula County on the east state border. Streamflows north of the divide feed Lake Erie, flows south of the divide run to the Ohio River, part of the Mississippi River basin that drains the majority of interior North America to the Gulf of Mexico.
As the drought conditions shift and change in the Ohio River basin, track the effects south down the Mississippi River into to Louisiana, rated "Exceptional Drought", the highest category on the National Drought map. Visit WTLA.us for more information on downstream effects.
Drinking Water matters
Sensitive population advisory for arsenic
Triad Middle School in North Lewisburg was added to the public drinking water advisories list of the Ohio EPA November 20 due to contamination with arsenic, exceeding the maximum contaminant level of arsenic, an inorganic chemical controlled under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The presence of excess arsenic does not indicate the need to use bottled water, however, persons with sensitivities or health concerns should consult their physician.
From the OEPA, "Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the MCL over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer."
Running average level of arsenic in water tests shows the level at 11 ug/L where the maximum level of arsenic permitted in a public drinking water system is 10. Triad Middle School holds a permit to provide drinking water to a non-transient non-community population of 251 to 1000 people. The raw water supply is a groundwater well in Champaign County.
Hazardous Spills Hotline updated as reported to OEPA 1-800-282-9378
An unknown amount of blue material is reported spilled into an unnamed water body off Portage Lakes Drive in Akron yesterday. A pond and channel leading into Long Lake is relatively close to the reported spill site, as is North Reservoir and Portage Lake Fishing Pond. OEPA has been asked for details. More to follow.
Anyone with knowledge of a spill is legally obliged to report immediately to local authorities or the OEPA spill hotline, any day of the week at any time. The spiller or responders in control of a spill on site will be ideally follow protocol for containment and handling of hazardous materials to minimize impact on waterways, including preventing escape down storm drains or tile drains. WTOH.us reports spills as the incident reports are released by the OEPA to bring awareness to events with potential to impact drinking water sources.
See the CWA Crimebox for historic criminal convictions involving hazardous spills deliberate and accidental discharges, where the responsible parties have included top level executives and business owners, supervisors and employees, along with the fines, probation and even jail time for knowingly or negligently discharging contaminants without a permit to do so.
WTOH.us brings incident reports as recorded by the Ohio EPA spill line staff, and seeks additional details from Ohio EPA spokespeople as required. Check the pink location tags on the map with the watershed layer, labels and arrows switched on to see the area potentially impacted by the spill.
Harmful Algal Bloom update based on the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) satellite monitoring program
NCCOS latest satellite image of west basin Lake Erie was captured November 25 at a wind speed of 4.6 mph. This image offers a mostly clear view of Lake Erie with some cloud obstruction around South Bass, Middle Bass and Kelleys Island and along shorelines.
North Maumee Bay HAB is visible along the shoreline matching a moderate concentration 100 thousand cells per 100 ml or less. Localized HABs continue along Michigan shore right up to Detroit Lake Erie Metropark. In Toledo, a small HAB is visible near Binghampton in the Maumee River at 100 thousand cells per 100 ml. A small HAB appears in Maumee Bay State Park area, Reno Beach and Metzer Marsh inland water body. Magee Marsh Wildlife area has a large area of dispersed HABs, five miles wide. The Catawba Island east side inland water bodies are still showing up with HAB, all at around the same concentration of 100 thousand cells per 100 ml.
One small open water HAB remains in the inner bay area of Sandusky Bay, and one small HAB shows up on the lake side of Cedar Point. A small HAB is visible along shore near Huron at 100 thosuand cells per 100 ml.
Public drinking water facilities are still monitoring algal toxin in raw drinking water obtained from surface water sources as per the OEPA standard bi-weekly testing until the first full week of December. Total microcystins test results above the minimum reporting threshold are posted on Ohio Drinking Water Watch.
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