Miles Long Toxic 'Blob' May Be Threat To Lake Erie

Lake Erie, the drinking water source for over 11 million people, appears to be struggling with toxic sediment.

The Ohio EPA is warning that a toxic blob, about two miles by two miles, is getting dangerously close to the drinking water supply in the lake. They say material dredged from the Cuyahoga River, and dumped in Lake Erie decades ago, left the toxic substance.

“Cleveland water officials called a rare news conference [in May] to address the concern. The takeaway was that they are aware of the problem and on top of it,” WKYC reported.

“If untreated, however, the dangers from the toxic pollutants, otherwise known as PCB’s, are real. They have been linked to cancer, pregnancy problems and hormone imbalance,” the report said.

Commissioner of Cleveland Water Alex Margevicius weighed in with details.

“We continue to monitor the water coming into the treatment plant, the raw water from the lake, and we monitor the treated water as it comes out,” Margevicius said, per the report. “We are doing all those things to make sure the water is of the highest quality.”

Officials stressed that water treatment plants are tackling the problem before water gets to the faucet, adding that facilities may need to use extra chemicals.

“The water is safe, we’ve tested the water,” said Scott Moegling, Cleveland Water Quality Manager, per the report. “I want to get across that even if we were to get material showing up in our raw water, we have more than adequate treatment.”

There is an ongoing debate over whether dredged materials should be dumped in the lake. The Army Corps of Engineering supports this approach, and disputed that the lake is in danger.

"No credible scientific evidence supports the hypothesis that a 'toxic blob' is migrating towards Cleveland's water intakes," Brigadier General Richard Kaiser, the head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Great Lakes Division said, according to Cleveland.com.

The Corps issued a news release on the issue, noting it supports Ohio’s investigative efforts.

Ohio officials have pushed back against a federal plan for the lake, arguing it would contribute to pollution and algae growth.

"The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly said it won't let the federal agency charged with harbor maintenance dump dredged material in Lake Erie because the muck contains toxic PCBs that endanger fish," the Cleveland.com reported in a news article.

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