Piketon’s Water Woes: EPA Flags Violations as Fear of Radioactive Contamination Continue

PIKETON, OH - For a town that’s been grappling with fears of radioactive pollution for years, the last thing residents wanted was another reason to doubt their tap water. But that’s exactly what they got when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the Piketon Village Public Water System (PWS) for failing to monitor disinfection by-products (DBPs) in its drinking water.

This violation, which covers the last quarter of 2024, raises fresh concerns in a community already worried about potential contamination from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS)—a Cold War-era nuclear facility just miles away.

Now, questions are swirling: Is Piketon’s water safe? How deep do these oversight failures go? And what aren’t officials telling residents?

Ohio EPA Calls Out Piketon for Testing Lapses

The violation notice, dated February 19, 2025, and addressed to Mayor Billy R. Spencer, cites the village for failing to test and report DBP levels—chemicals that form when disinfectants like chlorine interact with organic matter in the water. While DBPs are common in treated water, prolonged exposure to high levels has been linked to bladder cancer, kidney disease, and reproductive issues, according to the U.S. EPA.

Piketon’s water system is legally required to:

• Conduct routine water testing.
• Submit test results to state regulators.
• Notify the public about safety concerns.

By skipping this step, local officials left residents in the dark about whether their water contained unsafe levels of DBPs. That’s not just a bureaucratic blunder—it’s a public health risk.

What Happens Next?

To get back in line with state regulations, the Ohio EPA has ordered Piketon to:

1. Inform residents about the violation through an official public notice.
2. Submit proof that the notice was issued.
3. Test new water samples immediately.
4. Send results to an accredited lab for analysis.
5. Report the violation in its annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which details water quality concerns.

Failure to comply could lead to fines, stricter oversight, or even intervention from higher authorities.

A Bigger Problem: Radioactive Contamination?

This isn’t the first time Piketon’s water supply has made headlines. Earlier this month, reports surfaced suggesting that Technetium-99 (Tc-99)—a radioactive isotope linked to nuclear fuel production—may be lurking in Pike County’s water. Tc-99 is a byproduct of operations at the PORTS uranium enrichment plant, and it doesn’t just sit in the soil—it moves through water, making it a potential long-term hazard.

While Ohio’s standard water tests don’t screen for Tc-99, independent studies have pointed to elevated contamination levels in soil and crops near the plant. Scientists warn that extended exposure to Tc-99 could increase cancer risks and damage kidney function.

So far, officials haven’t made any moves to include Tc-99 in routine water tests—raising concerns that residents aren’t getting the full picture when it comes to what’s in their water.

Piketon’s Aging Infrastructure Adds to the Mess

Beyond the DBP monitoring failure, internal documents reveal that Piketon has been playing catch-up when it comes to backflow prevention—the system that stops contaminated water from commercial and industrial properties from seeping into the public supply.

Recent inspections uncovered multiple violations, with businesses and institutions either failing tests or not having been checked for years. 

Recent Facility Status Notes:

Valley View Health ✅ Compliant tested 02/05/25

Adena-Piketon ❌ Non-compliant scheduled for repair

The Pavilion ❌ Non-compliant awaiting part replacements

Piketon High School ✅ Compliant (13 devices tested)

Comfort Inn ✅ Compliant (2 devices tested)

Community Action ✅ Compliant, recent testing passed

Taco Bell/Duchess Awaiting response, contacted for inspection

If not properly managed, backflow issues can allow industrial pollutants and bacteria to flow into drinking water, compounding the risks posed by DBP violations and potential radioactive contamination.

Will Piketon Get Its Act Together?

For now, Piketon’s leaders have a choice: fix the problem and regain public trust—or keep dodging accountability while residents question every sip of water.

With mounting concerns over radioactive contamination, gaps in regulatory testing, and now an official violation from the Ohio EPA, people in Piketon are demanding answers.

The big questions remain:

• Will officials take testing seriously and comply with EPA orders?
• Will they expand water testing to check for Tc-99?
• How long have these issues been going on under the radar?

Water is a basic necessity, not a luxury. If the people in charge can’t guarantee that it’s safe, who will?

For now, residents are being urged to attend council meetings, review water quality reports, and push for stronger testing protocols. The pressure is on—and the town of Piketon is watching.