HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — A recently released report has found that the Ohio River is at-risk and clean drinking water for over 5 million people is in jeopardy.
American Rivers, a national organization, released a list detailing ten of “America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2023”. According to the report, the upper river has been threatened by industrialization and pollution, as most recently witnessed with the East Palestine train derailment.
Officials say the pollution of the Ohio River has resulted in significant discharges of toxic chemicals, including both legacy chemicals and chemicals of emerging concern.
“You’ve got these industrial cities, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati these old industrial rust belts that have a lot of manufacturing which has toxic releases into the river over many years,” said chair for the NAACP Environmental Climate and Justice Committee James Mosley.
Many of those releases have have tri-state residents like Jim Renne, a Newburgh resident concerned.
“You see boaters sometimes and you see sometimes the occasional tubers but I would be very uncomfortable going in that water,” Renee stated.
another toxic that has added to the ohio river’s high ranking on the endangered list is algae.
“in fact the largest toxic alga bloom that happened in the united states actually happened on the Ohio River a few years ago so it’s really time for us to get people in the room and start talking about how do we manage for the future.”
One of the many other toxins that has added to the Ohio River’s high ranking on the endangered list is algae.
“In fact the largest toxic algae bloom that happened in the United States actually happened on the Ohio River a few years ago so it’s really time for us to get people in the room and start talking about how do we manage for the future,” stated Heather Taylor-Miesle, senior vice-president for conservation for American Rivers.
Under the Clean Water Act, two thirds of the river is currently listed as impaired for bacteria. American Rivers say the the cumulative impact of pollution threatens drinking water and public health, while also putting vulnerable communities at risk.
The full list as released by American Rivers:
- Colorado River in the Grand Canyon
- Ohio River
- Pearl River
- Snake River
- Clark Fork River
- Eel River
- Lehigh River
- Chilkat and Klehini rivers
- Rio Gallinas
- Okefenokee Swamp
You can read the full report and find ways to take action by clicking here.
To discuss the Ohio River, there will be a listening session to collect input on clean and drinking water priorities for the river. The session is one of many being sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation’s Ohio River restoration and protection program.
The listening session will be held on May 9th from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. at the C.K. Newsome Community Center.
