Ohio EPA approved plans to increase the capacity of its treatment plant to enable it to meet the increased water demand caused by businesses abandoning auxiliary wells and connecting new customers to the Village system.

Backflow prevention and cross-connection control:  A large number of businesses on the Island utilize auxiliary wells for geothermal cooling, flushing toilets and outdoor cleaning.   Cross-connection between auxiliary wells and a public water system may allow contaminated water to enter the water supply plumbing system and be used for drinking, cooking or bathing.  A backflow prevention program is required to protect the public water system from such risks.

As part of the outbreak investigation, Ohio EPA evaluated potential cross-connections of the Village system with auxiliary wells.  Samples were collected from auxiliary wells and from a tap within the premises connected to the Village system.  These samples were analyzed for total coliform bacteria and, if positive, further tested for Escherichia coli (E. coli).  Eleven of the auxiliary wells tested positive for total coliform and four tested positive for E. coli.  Four locations served by the Village’s public water system were discovered to have physical cross-connections with plumbing connected to auxiliary wells, however, Ohio EPA was unable to confirm that any cross contamination had occurred. 

Under orders issued in August 2004, the Village of Put-in-Bay was required to fully implement a backflow prevention program in accordance with Ohio regulations. They were required to immediately begin inspecting all service connections for auxiliary wells and submit a report to Ohio EPA.  For any service connection with an auxiliary well, the well was required to be properly abandoned or a licensed plumber was required to ensure no cross-connection existed.  Any wells with E. coli detections are required to be abandoned. All businesses that continue to maintain an auxiliary well are required to have an appropriate backflow prevention device in place.   Ohio EPA is currently reviewing revisions to the system's backflow prevention program, as it was expanded over 2004.

Certified Operator: The Village of Put-in-Bay public water system is required to be under the responsible charge of  a full-time Class II certified operator.   The Village is currently on a compliance schedule for hiring a full-time Class II certified operator and currently has a Class III technical supervisor.