9/6/2024
WT Staff
 Got water comments, questions or concerns? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@wtoh.us
September 6, 2024 114 pm EDT
NWS: Strong to severe thunderstorms, large hail possible
Hazardous Weather Outlook issued 425 am Friday Sep 6 by NWS Cleveland
A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible between 3 and 7 PM
today with the primary threats being damaging wind gusts and large
hail.
Impacting Geauga-Ashtabula Inland-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull-Wyandot-
Crawford-Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow-Holmes-Knox-Southern Erie Counties.
Streamflow Situation from the network of USGS streamflow gauges in Ohio
Rivers and creeks run mostly normal through northern and central Ohio Friday, predominantly below normal to much below across the south with half a dozen stations recording low. The drought map shows the Auglaize and Lower Maumee River watersheds in moderate drought, the central Muskingum basin's Hocking River Hocking and Athens Counties and adjacent Ohio River minor tributary Raccoon-Symmes watershed through Lawrence and east Scioto Counties at severe hydrologic drought.
Pollution Prevention - Permission to Discharge Contaminants
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) issues permits to industrial and municipal operations for discharge of treated wastewater to the waterways of the state. Permit holders are required to re-submit and renew permits every five years, the characteristics and amount of the material to be discharged assessed and considered in light of all other known point source discharges to the same area or same receiving water body. WTOH.us reports matters concerning discharges potentially impacting drinking water sources, tagging spill incidents on the map to the right. At the same time, drinking water advisories, high flow and flood incidents are tagged, the watershed layer and directional arrows pointing where the impact may be felt downstream. Awareness of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits in a given watershed is an important facet of the work to understand the overall conditions facing drinking water facilities.
OEPA administers, monitors and enforces compliance with NPDES permits in Ohio. In each state, a risk-benefit analysis aids administrators whether allowing a lower water quality may be necessary to accommodate socio-economic needs. The US EPA sets out the minimum standard to maintain water quality in the USA, a number of acts of legislation define these standards including the Clean Water Act. States individually determine environmental protections above and beyond the CWA, for example a vital drinking water source may warrant more stringent pollutant discharge limits. Each state assesses and reports the status of water bodies as either meeting or not meeting intended use, the Impaired Water Bodies report to US EPA every two years. The state ensures discharges allow for maintenance of water quality supporting designated use.
When discharge permits are violated through intent or negligence, criminal charges can be laid under the Clean Water Act. The US EPA Criminal Enforcement Forensics and Training Unit has the full powers of investigation and enforcement for the Clean Water Act, working with State authorities for environmental justice. Case brief for a paint company sentenced for dumping hazardous material, here.
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