SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM
Akron’s watershed
management program focuses strongly on source water protection. The focus includes
properties owned and managed by the City and protecting the watershed in its entirety.
Watershed Rangers quarterly monitor all EPA National Pollutant Discharge Eliminations
System (NPDES), permitted sites in the watershed such as small wastewater treatment
facilities and industries that discharge into a waterway. Watershed Rangers also monitor
other potential pollution source sites such as sand and gravel mining operations, oil
wells and storage, agricultural runoff, construction and hazardous materials sites.
In addition to monitoring these sites quarterly, Watershed Rangers also work with the
Ohio EPA to monitor a 10 mile corridor of tributaries and river just north of Lake
Rockwell. Monitoring all potential contamination sources in this corridor is essential to
the water quality as this is the most critical area for pollution to enter into the
reservoir and potentially into the drinking water. Watershed Rangers work diligently
monitoring the entire watershed to ensure the drinking water for Akron customers is of the
highest quality possible.
