On October 24th, city leaders in Marietta made it clear they’re not waiting around for change. After the City Council’s unanimous vote earlier this month, they took their call for clean water straight to the Governor’s Office. The resolution they hand delivered asks the state to pause Class II injection well activity in Washington County for three years and to take a serious look at the risks these wells pose to the community.
For years, southeast Ohio has carried more than its fair share of the region’s oil and gas waste. Washington County has 19 permitted Class II injection wells, and six sit within just two miles of Marietta’s Source Water Protection Area. The county makes up only about 1.5 percent of Ohio’s land area, but it takes in 20 percent of all injected wastewater in the state. Almost half of that waste comes from out of state.
“We are being forced to accept too much waste too close to our aquifers,” said Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels. “Marietta is the Best Historical Small Town in the nation, and we’ll be featured in next year’s America 250 Ohio celebration. We’re urging the state to act so that our drinking water is not put at further risk.”
Residents have every reason to be concerned. In recent years, injection wells in southeast Ohio have been found to leak or migrate beyond their intended zones. Despite these risks, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has continued approving new permits and denied Marietta’s request for a public hearing on the most recent one.
The council’s decision is part of a growing call across the state for accountability and stronger oversight of oil and gas waste disposal. The resolution urges the state to study the full environmental and public health impacts before any new wells move forward.
Over the past few months, that call has grown into something much bigger than a single vote. Residents, environmental groups, oil and gas well owners, and local officials have been filling council chambers again and again, standing together for clean water. Parents, small business owners, and longtime Marietta residents have shown up, shared stories, and called on the state to do better.
Buckeye Environmental Network has been working alongside community members and city leaders, helping with research, gathering public comments, and connecting Marietta’s story with others across the state facing similar threats.
City leaders met with ODNR officials on Friday before delivering copies of the resolution to the Governor’s Office and state legislators. For many, this is about more than policy. It’s about protecting the place they call home.
What’s happening in Marietta shows the power of people standing shoulder to shoulder around something that matters. Folks with different backgrounds, politics, and jobs are all standing up for clean water. Together, they’re proving that when a community decides enough is enough, real change starts to happen.
What’s happening in Marietta shows what’s possible when people come together to protect the places they love. This work takes all of us, from the research and organizing to the long nights and steady push for change.
If you believe in what we’re doing, consider becoming a Buckeye Environmental Network member. Your support helps us keep showing up for communities across Ohio that are standing up for clean water and environmental justice.
Even a small contribution makes a difference. Together, we can protect our water, our health, and our future. 🌿