Numerous Washington County officials gather for a call-to-action over injection wells

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) — Officials from multiple local governments and water boards have joined in a combined effort to call for a three-year moratorium on injection wells and a study of the impacts of those wells on drinking water safety.

Representatives from Washington County for Safe Drinking Water met Wednesday at the Marietta Armory with the Warren, Putnam, Little Hocking, Highland Ridge and Tri-County water boards, along with officials from Muskingum and Waterford Townships, the Village of Beverly and the City of Marietta. Bev Reed of Buckeye Environmental Network said 109 people attended the meeting.

Susan Vessels, Marietta City Council President, said the coalition represents an unusual level of cooperation among public entities.

“This is the first time in Ohio, and maybe in the nation’s history, that this many water districts have gotten together to fight for our future,” Vessels said. “And so, I think that there is hope, in this sort of ground swell, and we are showing what the community wants — we want safety — and we just have to hope that they listen to us in Columbus.”

Class II injection wells are drilled to dispose of wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. That wastewater, or brine, has been found to be radioactive and to contain heavy metals and PFAS chemicals — referred to as forever chemicals. Officials and residents have expressed concern about what could happen if that wastewater reaches underground aquifers that tens of thousands of people depend on for drinking water.

On Thursday, Washington County residents and activists with Washington County for Safe Drinking Water and Buckeye Environmental Network delivered the injection well moratorium resolutions to the state legislature and the governor’s office in Columbus.

Speaking in front of the statehouse, Hillary Royster of Washington County for Safe Drinking Water said the issue is a matter of public safety.

“It becomes a public health issue, you know? Regardless if you make your money in oil and gas or not, you should be concerned about what comes out of your faucet, and if that water’s getting contaminated. So, we need real boundaries there,” Royster said.

Reed said a moratorium is necessary to give experts time to study the issue before irreversible damage is done.

“Why do we have to continue to rapidly rubber stamp these permit applications, which is what ODNR is doing? We need to study the issue. They need to hire the experts to do it. And the issues that are currently happening right now with brine migrating to oil and gas wells at a rapid rate in Washington County. And not enough people are talking about that,” Reed said.

The renewed call follows legislation passed by Marietta City Council last year asking for a moratorium, as well as months of organizing by activists and Washington County residents. Since the city passed that legislation and presented its moratorium request to Ohio lawmakers and the office of Governor Mike DeWine, no action has been taken at the state level.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which regulates Class II injection wells, granted permits for two more wells last year and denied requests for public hearings.

See an error in our reporting? Send us an email by clicking here!

Copyright 2026 WTAP. All rights reserved.