Ohio injection well operations stop after suspected leaks

By Nadia Ramlagan

The owners of several injection wells in Washington County voluntarily agreed to stop using them after state officials warned they could be leaking.

Injection wells are used to pump toxic fluid waste from fracking deep into the earth as a disposal method.

David Jeffrey, professor of geology at Marietta College, said the problem is the waste can migrate thousands of feet while underground, potentially spreading for miles. Jeffrey believes Ohio counties need stronger regulation and data transparency to better gauge risks posed from injection wells.

"We do have places where fluids that are the toxic injection fluids from the fracking that are being injected into our ground around here, erupting on the surface around wellheads," Jeffrey pointed out.

Fracking waste contains heavy metals and radioactive chemicals and can seep into shallow aquifers and potentially contaminate groundwater residents rely on as drinking sources. According to state data, Ohio has hundreds of Class II injection wells for oil and gas wastewater disposal, with about 234 active as of 2023.

Bev Reed, Appalachian organizer for the Buckeye Environmental Network, said the state sent a notice to well operators after persistent efforts from the city of Marietta, advocacy groups, county water authorities and local oil and gas producers. But Reed is concerned the temporary suspension of the wells is not enough to curb the long-term risk of widespread contamination.

"If we keep pumping waste into the ground blindly, then it might happen someday, and then we'll have a major crisis on our hands," Reed said.

Buckeye Environmental Network is calling on the state to launch a long-term, systemic investigation into injection well waste migration across southeastern Ohio. The group wants the state to consistently monitor wells with a history of potential leaks and regularly test private water wells within at least five miles of any injection well suspected of migration.