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Commissioners Addressing Washington Co. Pollution Problem

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Washington County is now making plans to fix a pollution problem in the Devola area.

Washington County Commissioner Tim Irvine says the action follows a court settlement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

“The EPA has mandated that Washington County to develop a plan to alleviate the high nitrate levels in the Putnam community water system that is the water system servers Devola area. The high nitrate levels are caused by the septic system in the Devola area,” said Irvine.

Ohio EPA spokesman Mike Settles says Washington County is required to develop a proposal to properly treat waste from local homes.

“Washington County has a year to submit their plan to us to address the unsewered area of Devola and to tell us what they plan to do. It could very well include getting the area sewered and having the sewages to go the Marietta waste water treatment plant,” said Settles.

In late 2009, the Putnam Community Water Association noted multiple samples of pollution problems with the drinking water provided to the Devola area.