Kudos to Marietta City Council and member, Harley Noland for taking the issue of brine disposal in Washington County seriously. A public meeting attended by 150 residents of Washington County was held by the Buckeye Environmental Network at Warren High School on July 17, 2025. The organizers shared information on class II injection wells, which store the toxic wastewater produced by hydrauclic fracturing or fracking. Wells in Washington County are used extensively to store the waste from oil and gas operations, putting local water wells at risk.

Analysis by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources shows that this wastewater has already contaminated oil and gas production wells in Washington County. Water Association officials worry that the contamination is spreading to wells used to supply drinking water throughout Washington County. The Washington County Commission should also be worried. The commission is responsible for “land use” within the county according to the Commission website.

Unfortunately, the County Commission which last met on July 15, does not meet for a regular meeting in the county until September 9, 2025 according to the commission’s website. While the city council is to be commended for holding a meeting to discuss an issue that does affect the city of Marietta, the commission should also be involved. Furthermore, everyone should be in contact with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and our state representatives, Ritter and Chavez to create legislation to protect the water supply in Washington County.

Teresa R. Porter

Marietta, Ohio