BIG WALNUT CREEK

Is your drinking water clean?

Although Big Walnut Creek is in decent condition, there are still some concerns and debates over Columbus’ main water source. According to the Ohio EPA and Columbus OH Water Quality Report of 2012, Big Walnut Creek has a B for the Water Quality Score. It passes all health guidelines and uses chlorine disinfectant but it failed some legal limits and some reporting and monitoring requirements. Between 2004 and 2009, Columbus’ general water quality reports had seventeen detected contaminants, one above the legal limits, zero above health guidelines, and sixteen below the limits for water suppliers. Ninety-three water contaminants were tested, but none were found in the drinking water.[1] As Big Walnut Creek carries 62% of all Columbus’ drinking water, many people are very protective of it, however there has been much debate over how to protect it. In 1991, city water officials wanted to confine most of the river within a 7-foot diameter pipe. They argued that if there was just one toxic spill, Columbus would be out of water. But the pipe would cost millions of dollars and cause the ecology around the creek to be in great danger. With much fear of ruining one of the few natural waterways in Columbus, the pipeline was not approved.[2] From then on, much has been done to protect the water from pollution. For example, the government payed farmers to plant filters of grass, trees, and wetlands, and use weed killers and other chemicals that are less harmful to limit the damage from runoff.[3]

[1] Columbus OH Drinking Water Quality Report, Water Filter Comparisons, http://waterquality.waterfiltercomparisons.com/columbus-oh-drinking-water-quality-report/, accessed November 28, 2017

[2] “Waterline may Stow Creek Flow – Environmentalists Fear the Results of Proposed Pipeline”, Columbus Dispatch, September 10, 1991, 03B

[3] “Plan Protects Reservoir – Government to pay farmers near Big Walnut watershed to plan grass, trees as filters”, Columbus Dispatch, April 20, 2002, 01A