ODNR creates tools to track water facilities
(WKBN) — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) released on Wednesday new online tools to track water withdrawal facilities across the state.
The Water Withdrawal Facility Locator Tool shows the locations and high-capacity water use data of water withdrawal facilities in Ohio. It includes historical trend data, including when the location last released an annual report, how many wells are at the facility, and what the groundwater is used for.
'Access to accurate water use data is essential for informed decision-making and resource management,' said ODNR Director Mary Mertz in a news release. 'This tool will empower Ohioans and professionals alike to gain deeper insights into our state's water resources, promoting transparency and collaboration in addressing our water future.'
A separate interactive map was also created to track the rates at which groundwater is pumped at facilities across the state and how the water moves.
ODNR says the maps and datasets can be used for modeling groundwater flow, predicting how contaminants might move through an aquifer, calculating irrigation rates and other applications important to land-use development that can be used by drillers, homeowners, municipalities, industries, and agricultural operations.
'The goal with these maps is to deliver a statewide, data-driven assessment of Ohio's aquifer resources in a way that can inform responsible development and guide site-specific investigations,' said Craig Nelson, lead hydrogeologist on the mapping project. 'The yield component will be useful for water-well drillers and developers, while researchers, modelers, and engineers will appreciate the hydraulic conductivity component.'
The Aquifer Yield and Hydraulic Conductivity maps were funded in part by an Ohio Water Development Authority Research & Development Grant.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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