Lenn Black, Environmental Specialist, Division of Water, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Karen Mancl, Professor Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering,The Ohio State University
Retention and expansion of existing businesses and institutions should be a major focus of a stable small community. The current water users may be restricted by the quantity or quality of their existing water supply. Their future plans and needs should be a consideration in the development and improvement of a community water system.
Businesses and institutions that have their own private water supply may now feel burdened by the increasing regulatory requirements that have been put in place to protect employees, business customers, and institutional visitors. These facilities may now wish to become a part of a community water supply. For example, schools with their own water supply are considered nontransient, noncommunity water systems and some are struggling to keep up with new regulatory requirements.
New commercial and institutional development plans are more speculative. Downtown revitalization projects will likely increase water needs. Planned development at highway interchanges also comes with a need for water. Water service must be a part of all future commercial and institutional development plans.