Water pollution has become concerning news recently as a secondary effect of the paper mill shutdown. The mayor explained the issue in his briefing to Chillicothe city council.

Toxic chemicals have been in the groundwater under the former factory at 1089 Eastern Avenue, built by Alcoa, then operated by Wear-Ever, then housing Rubbermaid. Production ended years ago, but the site is owned and managed by a company named Howmet.

Mayor Luke Feeney spent 11 minutes explaining the situation in his briefing to council on Monday, July 28th. He said the Ohio EPA, Howmet, and Pixelle have known about the “plume” of chemicals in the groundwater, and that the pollution has been kept from migrating too far away by drawdown by two wells for the Pixelle paper mill. (The mill has several wells, some at surprising distances.)

Paper production requires much water, and part of the reason for the paper mill’s growth here is that this part of the Scioto Valley has a huge amount of sand and gravel in the deeper bedrock valley. Most of Chillicothe is built on terraces of this glacial sediment that may be 100 to 200 feet thick as the “Teays Valley aquifer.”

Feeney said the EPA has known that if wells 17 & 18 stop pumping, the plume can start slowly migrating with the natural movement of the groundwater, probably southeastward. So, he said if and when Pixelle ceases operations, they must go through procedures for the EPA. There are several versions of cessation, Feeney said. One is that the paper manufacturing stops but the wells keep pumping.

He said Howmet has been required by the EPA to determine what could happen if the paper mill wells stop, and what to do then. The Ohio EPA has also asked for additional monitoring wells to allow more water sampling.

Feeney said he was aware that city residents are concerned about this, but pointed out that the source of city water is two miles away, at the Water Treatment Plant in Yoctangee Park. The city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is close to the plume, on Renick Avenue, but it processes sewage, and would not be affected by the pollution.

The mayor said the city supports the EPA’s actions and wants Howmet to be required to deal with the pollution.

The Wear-Ever facility has been characterized as a “zombie site” where there is no activity, but also no cleanup, and with resistance to taking action.

Feeney says the city communicates daily with the Ohio EPA, especially regarding the old city landfill on Narrows Road.

Jamie Brown, past councilman and again candidate for the 6th Ward, briefly spoke about the groundwater pollution concern.

Just after the council session, he emailed Chillicothe Council to “formally request that the Chillicothe City Council immediately…issue a subpoena to representatives of Howmet Aerospace and require their appearance before council” and “require them to present full documentation of their remediation plan and community safety assurances.”

See a screen shot of his email below.