The 205,000 square mile waterway is among the largest in the nation, yet has not received the federal cleanup support other basins have received, like the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake. More than 97% of Kentucky rivers and streams draw from the Ohio River.
Michael Washburn, executive director of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, said a long history of pollution has imperiled the health of regional waters for decades.
"We have PFAS, we have aging infrastructure in our water utilities," Washburn outlined. "We also have a lot of both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species that are under threat."
Nearly 70% of streams and 64% of lakes in the Ohio River Basin do not meet state water quality standards. They often contain high levels of mercury, synthetic chemicals, bacteria, and excess nutrients.
Washburn noted there are more than 100 toxic waste dumps in the Ohio River Basin, thought to be further contaminating the water supply. He pointed out the Ohio River Basin Alliance released a draft plan last summer outlining solutions to address pollution.
"There are parts of the plan that deal with legacy pollution, industrial contamination and getting those things like mercury out of the water," Washburn explained.
According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, around half of the region’s communities are considered economically distressed or at-risk of being so, and are more likely to suffer from physical and mental health problems linked to pollution exposure.
