Well Water Management in Southern Medina County Lake Erie Drainage Basin Ohio River Drainage Basin
History of County Involvement 1996 Lodi- Medina County- Harrisville Twp Utility Service Agreement Prime Retail project: County assumed construction oversight, management, inspections, and financial responsibility for project. Harrisville Twp Trustees signatory to agreement County Obligated to turn over water lines to Village without appraisal of value after reimbursement of county expenses A(1) and A(4): Title to the Harrisville facilities shall be promptly vested in the Village after the County s costs of constructing the Harrisville Facilities have been paid in full. Estimated OWDA loan payoff from special assessments 2008
History of County Involvement SOUTHERN MEDINA COUNTY WATER MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM 1997 Baker Sand and Gravel request for county protection from Burbank eminent domain proceedings 1997 County created sewer district in order to develop plan for public water services (Resolution Number 97-526-A) Consortium created to develop and implement plan that would manage limited water resource and prevent destructive competition
Yields of Unconsolidated Aquifers Wayne and Medina Counties Medina City Yield in Gallons Per Minute (GPM) Over 500 gpm 100 to 500 gpm 25 to 100 gpm 3 to 25 gpm Less than 3 gpm Lodi Burbank Westfield Center Creston Wooster Seville Rittman Wadsworth City Doylestown Source: ODNR Division of Water
SOUTHERN MEDINA COUNTY WATER MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM Mission statement: The mission of the consortium is to explore, protect and manage the use of potable ground water resources in southern Medina County for the sustainable benefit of current and future Medina County residents.
SOUTHERN MEDINA COUNTY WATER MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM Operating Principles: Members of the consortium are pledged to uphold the following: Commitment to the protection of groundwater resources from over development by any entity, public or private. Protection of the quality and quantity of groundwater available to individual residential wells is the first concern of the Southern Medina County Well Development Plan.
Consortium members: (2001) Medina County Commissioners City of Wadsworth Lodi Village Seville Village Westfield Center Village Westfield Township Trustees
Consortium Status: (2006) Members: Medina County Commissioners Westfield Center Village Westfield Township Trustees Status: Well Development Plan Approved Wells Protected with Purchase of Recharge Area (2004) OWDA: Planning Loan (2005) & Construction Loan (2007) County acquires Westfield Village Water Treatment Plant and system. (August 2006)
Protection of Aquifer and Purchase of Ground Water Recharge Areas 2004 Green Ohio Grant application: The park district is partnering with the Medina County Sanitary Engineer to provide protection to a significant underground water resource in this area of Medina County. Due to the consistent rapid growth of Medina County, it is essential to protect this aquifer from over development for the benefit of Medina County residents.
Protection of Aquifer and Purchase of Ground Water Recharge Areas Medina County Park District purchase of 350 acres $920,000 Clean Ohio Grant and $100,000 from Medina County Commissioners (2004)
Consortium Plan on Right Track McNamara, et al. v. City of Rittman (2005) The Supreme Court of Ohio ruled unanimously that landowners have a property right in the groundwater under their land, and that governmental interference with that right can constitute a taking of property for which the owner is entitled to compensation. The Supreme Court opens the door for individuals to file claims against municipal governments whose activities in any way diminish the quantity or quality of water which is held or flows beneath a landowner's real estate.
Lake Erie Diversion Issue County Water Service Area designed to insure that Lake Erie basin water is not diverted to Ohio River basin Great Lakes Compact & Great Lakes Restoration Plan County has plans for providing potable water to customers south of the divide (Harrisville Twp & Westfield Twp)
Harrisville-Westfield Water Service Area Continental Divide Park District-County Water Rights Area A (1996) County Wells Area B