[Green] Mayor answered my aquifer concerns!!

[gbanz42 at suddenlink.net]

Dawn,

    Thanks for sharing your communication with Josh Schlicher. I have had a good experience with him on the project to restore the Harmar Bridge. In the face of some resistance from the city attorney and some council members, he has  stood up for the project. He does listen. I think that you are getting through to him on the water-well issue.

     One thing that does turn him off is when people go to the media (WTAP or MTimes) before speaking with him or other city officials.


---- Dawn Hewitt via Green <green at fuusm.org> wrote: 
> Within 24 hours of sending my concerns about parking on the aquifer well fields, and encouragement to protect our drinking water supply, Mayor Schlicher replied to my email and directly answered my concerns. 
> 
> I have a feeling that I disagree with the Mayor on many issues, but he repeatedly proves that he listens and is responsive to citizens’s concerns. His response is super encouraging. (Following it, you can read the letter I wrote to him.). —dawn
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> > From: Josh Schlicher <jschlicher at mariettaoh.net>
> > Date: January 21, 2021 at 1:19:38 PM EST
> > To: Dawn Hewitt <hewitt at earth-maker.com>
> > Subject: RE: Protect our aquifer
> > 
> > Hi Dawn,
> > 
> > Water well head protection is a priority. In my staff meeting last month with the water superintendent and distribution foreman I made that a top priority for our improved operations plan for the water department. The ball field users have been parking there for decades and generations. We have to break their habits with better delineation of boundaries, signage and enforcement. 
> > 
> > Our water remains high quality and our treatment facilities are in the design stages of changing to a reverse osmosis system to provide even higher levels of quality water to our customers. This is changing the system in place since the 1930's and is the industry standard today. It also represents the largest capital project ever taken on by the city of Marietta for new construction. We have many improvements to make in our water infrastructure and distribution. We will be painting the last of 7 water tanks this year. All other water reserve facilities have been coated and painted to provide protection of the facility and a 25 year coating to protect the water from contamination.
> > 
> > We will be doing much better this year and into the future. Thanks so much for contacting me about your concerns. I appreciate it very much.
> > 
> > 
> > Josh Schlicher
> > Mayor
> > City of Marietta
> > 301 Putnam Street
> > Suite 1000
> > Marietta, OH 45750
> > 740-373-1387 Office
> > 740-516-4901 City Cell
> > 740-350-1337 Personal Cell
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dawn Hewitt [mailto:hewitt at earth-maker.com] 
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 10:02 PM
> > To: Josh Schlicher <jschlicher at mariettaoh.net>
> > Subject: Protect our aquifer
> > 
> > Dear Mayor Schlicher,
> > 
> > I drink tap water. I trust that the city treatment facility is doing all it can to filtrate and treat the water pumped from the well fields in Indian Acres Park to make it 100-percent safe for human consumption over the course of a lifetime. My lifetime. I drink a lot of tap water every day. 
> > 
> > I am concerned about our aquifer. As I read in a September 2015 Ohio EPA report, the aquifer is only 30 feet below the surface. The thin layer of soil above it is not much protection in the case of contamination. It is critical, therefore, that the well field be protected. Please make sure parking prohibitions on the unpaved areas are enforced. Better still, I encourage you to prevent vehicle egress with fencing. Vehicles parking on the grass will cause soil compaction, reducing the filtration properties of that thin layer of soil. Trees and vegetation on the well field contribute to filtration of the rainwater that flows into our aquifer, so that vegetation must be protected. Contamination from leaky vehicles could flow directly into our drinking water. Our well field and aquifer are delicate, sensitive systems, and they must be protected.
> > 
> > Signs explaining why parking is prohibited except on paved lots in this area would help visitors understand the reasons for restricted parking, and also make them aware of the special, valuable nature of these fields. 
> > 
> > Indian Acres Park has ample paved parking areas at the boat launch and serving the aquatic center. There is no reason why anyone should ever park on unpaved areas of the well field. Furthermore, those who use the park for recreation or exercise should have no objection to walking a bit farther from a paved parking space in order to protect their drinking water. 
> > 
> > Surely there’s not a whole lot more important than making sure the residents of this area have safe, clean, healthy water. I encourage you to address this vulnerability and protect our aquifer.
> > 
> > Sincerely,
> > 
> > Dawn Hewitt
> > 622 N. 7th St.
> > Marietta, Ohio 

--
George Banziger
202 Lawton Road
Marietta, OH 45750-1111
740-434-5685
cell: 740-434-3354