COLUMBUS, OH (April 16, 2025)—The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) announced today the launch of a new, interactive planning tool designed to help community leaders in Central Ohio make informed water infrastructure and community investment decisions in a manner that both protects natural resources and supports economic development.  The Central Ohio Regional Water Projection Dashboard contains data on how various population growth trends, industrial expansion options, and agricultural use patterns could influence future ground and surface water supplies across the 15-county area. The dashboard allows users to analyze potential population growth, water use, and precipitation scenarios to consider future water and wastewater infrastructure needs.
Data from the analysis indicates that current water volumes in the 15-county region are generally sufficient to meet current and anticipated drinking water demands. However, projected residential and economic growth may necessitate additional infrastructure investments in water and wastewater facilities and/or the advancement of water recycling strategies. |
Data for the study was collected from various federal agencies, Ohio EPA, ODNR, and the Ohio Department of Development, as well as information provided by municipalities, universities, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Ohio EPA and ODNR will reassess and update the modeling and inputs annually to keep the tool current. While this regional study focused on Central Ohio, the agencies plan to conduct additional studies throughout the state in the future. -30- epa.ohio.gov CONTACT: katie.boyer@epa.ohio.gov, 614.715.1869 |
