We often hear of places where the water is unsafe to drink, or there simply is no water, or there are just not adequate water treatment facilities. In fact Sudan, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan come to mind when I think of places with no water. Los Angeles and the American southwest come to mind as well, but then I tend to think that those places just mismanage their water-too many pools, and watered lawns for a semi-arid climate. But today there is a water crisis not in some far off place, but in Ohio’s fourth largest city. Toledo’s water system supplies drinking water to between 4-500,000 people. It is one of America’s crossroads, the home to Jeep, Tony Packos, and Owens Corning. If you were to stop in the glass city today for a fresh coffee you would not be allowed to order it. Drinking the water, or even cleaning or cooking with it would risk giving you diarrhea, or cause vomiting.  The cause is a toxin called microsystin which is produced by the Western Basin’s algal bloom. Algae has become an annual concern for communities that draw their water from that part of the lake, but has never caused this much of an alarm. It is unclear how long the drinking water advisory will be in effect as well as how long it will take to clear the “toxic” water from the system.

                The reason for these blooms is complicated as there are multiple issues that confound the problem. Geologically the western basin is the shallowest part of all the Great Lakes. This means that the water temperature is also the warmest and when combined with the nutrient run off from the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers creates ideal conditions for the blooms to occur. Added to this is the complexity of global climate change.  According to both models and data, the western basin continues to grow warmer each year. Increasing with temperature are large or more severe rain events that when combined with impervious surfaces, and efficiently drained fields lead to more nutrients flushing into the lake.

                However actions and goals like the ones being undertaken by organizations such as FLOW can aid in the reduction of water quality events like algal blooms. Planting more trees, and establishing no-mow buffer zones around ditches and streams can drastically reduce the rapid flow of agricultural nutrients into our rivers and streams. Projects such as the City of Columbus’s green infrastructure program that lines sewer laterals can help reduce the number of combined overflow events that dump nutrient rich effluent into our lakes, rivers and streams. Pervious concrete and pavers in place of impervious asphalt and concrete can slow down the flow of nutrients as well.

                That the largest freshwater resource in the world is suffering a water crisis is both a shame and a warning. It is in our best interest to take the problems of water more seriously if we want to continue to hold ourselves up to first world standards. Proactive steps need to be taken that will first reduce the amount of nutrient dumped into our waters and on a larger level slow down the effect of climate change. The problem may seem large and complex but the solution is as simple as planting a tree or riding your bike. Advocate for smarter policy, call your representatives to pass legislation that protects the Midwest’s greatest asset. Today should make you realize that we take our water resources for granted, and it about time we learn to take care of them.