Del-Co Water, which serves over 45,000 customers across six counties, is exploring land near Utica as a potential site for new water production facilities. While the utility maintains that the search is necessary to meet future demand, Utica residents fear that the sheer volume of water withdrawal required for the booming central region will significantly lower the local water table, causing their existing private wells to run dry or become unusable.
Community Opposition Rises
“Our wells are our livelihood,” stated long-time Utica resident Martha Hess at a recent community meeting. “We rely on them, and many of us have them at a relatively shallow depth. If a major utility starts pulling millions of gallons a day from the same aquifer, what’s going to happen to the small amount we need?”
The search for new sources is directly linked to the rapid development around the Columbus metro area and the numerous large-scale projects, including the massive tech and manufacturing facilities that have recently broken ground. The demands of this unprecedented growth are pushing regional utilities to look farther east into Licking and Knox counties for viable water supplies.
Del-Co Water’s Stance
Del-Co Water has acknowledged the community’s fears and has stated its commitment to responsible water management. A spokesperson for the utility, in a press release, emphasized that all potential sites are undergoing rigorous environmental and hydrological testing.
“We understand and respect the concerns of the Utica residents,” the statement read. “Any development we undertake will be subject to state and federal permitting processes, which require us to demonstrate that our operations will not negatively impact existing water users. Our goal is to ensure sustainable water access for both our customers and our neighbors in the region.”
Despite these assurances, many residents remain unconvinced, pointing to historical examples in other parts of the state where large-scale extraction has led to water scarcity for smaller, private users.
The controversy is expected to escalate in the coming weeks as Del-Co Water continues its land evaluations. Residents are organizing and plan to attend future public meetings to demand transparent data and concrete protections for their property rights and water access before any definitive plans are approved.
October 22, 2025