Marietta City Council’s Water, Sewer and Sanitation Committee has created a seven-member task force to take a closer look at the science, safety, and permitting process surrounding Class I and Class II injection wells near the city’s water sources.

The newly formed Injection Well Task Force will include specialists across geology, chemistry, engineering, and law. Councilman Ben Rutherford, who chairs the Water, Sewer, and Sanitation Committee, will oversee the selection of the remaining members—expected to include a hydrogeologist, petro-engineer, geochemist, and representatives from both legal and engineering fields. The group is expected to begin meeting before the end of the year.

Rutherford said he initially preferred another council member chair the task force to avoid the appearance of bias, noting his prior vote against legal action involving one of the proposed wells. However, colleagues on the committee expressed confidence in his leadership, citing his background in chemistry and environmental science.

What the Task Force Will Examine

The creation of the task force follows public outcry over a permit for the proposed Class II Stephan Well No. 1—an injection well planned within two miles of Marietta’s municipal water field. During a recent council meeting, more than 80 residents voiced concerns about how the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) handles well permits and potential risks to local groundwater.

Resolution 79, which formally established the task force, was amended to broaden its scope beyond the single Class II project. The group will also examine a proposed Class I well near Bramblewood Heights.

Understanding Injection Wells

Injection wells are used to safely dispose of liquid waste deep underground, a process regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and overseen by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies such as ODNR.

Class I wells are designed to inject hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste into deep, isolated rock formations located thousands of feet below drinking water aquifers. These wells are highly engineered, featuring multiple layers of steel casing and cement to prevent contamination.

Class II wells, by contrast, handle fluids associated with oil and gas extraction—primarily brine, or saltwater, produced during drilling. While these wells are also regulated and permitted through state programs, they’ve faced increasing scrutiny in Ohio and other states due to concerns about potential groundwater migration and seismic activity linked to deep injection practices.

The Marietta task force’s mission is to gather data, consult experts, and provide recommendations to city council on potential impacts of injection wells in the region. Members are expected to assess local geology, fluid migration risks, and how injection activity might affect aquifers serving as drinking water sources.

The task force’s findings will be presented to city council later this year, helping guide Marietta’s next steps in balancing energy development with water safety and environmental stewardship.