UT Water Task Force

Tom Bridgeman showing a Lake Erie water sample Lake Erie bloom UT boat on Lake Erie

In response to the Toledo’s August, 2014 water crisis, the University of Toledo formed a Task Force to provide support and information to public officials and the public from UToledo experts on the nature of the problem and to suggest approaches to protect the health of Lake Erie, the quality of drinking water in Northwest Ohio and the health of the citizens of the region. 

The University of Toledo has built tremendous faculty depth and breadth in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, water treatment technologies, water policy and law, and environmental issues relating to public health as a focused area of investment over the past 15 years and they are uniquely qualified to address the multi-dimensional aspects of this question.

Problem Solving to Protect Water...

Featuring UToledo's Tom Bridgeman, co-leader of Ohio's Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI) discusses the progress made in this statewide effort to find solutions to toxic algae in Lake Erie. HABRI is funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education with matching funds from participating universities and is led by representatives from The Ohio State University and The University of Toledo.
Ohio Sea Grant Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative Year 3 and 4 Project Update
OHIO SEA GRANT
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM RESEARCH INITIATIVE 
2021 PROJECT UPDATE
Dr. Jason Huntley’s research lab recently made major progress in his mission to create a biofilter that uses naturally occurring Lake Erie bacteria to remove microcystin released by harmful algal blooms from drinking water, reducing or eliminating the use of chlorine and other chemicals.
Dr. Bill Hintz's research focuses on the overuse of road salts to melt snow and ice impacts our fresh water sources such as Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. 

TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEES

Land Use and Water Quality
Land Use and Water Quality
Policy, Economics, Law and Education
Policy, Economics, Law and Public Education
Water Treatment, Water Infrastructure, Water Testing, Detection and Monitoring
Water Treatment, Water Infrastructure, Water Testing, Detection
and Monitoring
Toxicity, Microbiology and Sepcific Health Concerns
Toxicity, Microbiology and Specific Health Concerns
Watch "Harmful Algae in Ohio's Great Lake"
Last Updated: 6/27/22