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H2Ohio will improve water quality, help growers implement practices

H2Ohio, a data-driven water quality plan, will preserve and protect Ohio’s waterways. The initiative focuses on reducing phosphorus, preventing algal blooms, creating wetlands, addressing failing septic systems and preventing lead contamination.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine discusses the Ohio General Assembly’s investment in the plan.

“We created this fund of $172 million that the legislature appropriated for the next two years to work on this water quality program,” he says. “Without the help of the legislature in doing that we would not have been able to come out with H2Ohio.”

He says the plan will help farmers move to better practices that will improve water quality.

“Giving them the incentives to do that and the help to do that we think will make a huge, huge difference,” he says.

Frank Burkett is the president of Ohio Farm Bureau,

“H2Ohio actually brings the financial resources together to put practices in place for farmers to have a greater impact on water quality concerns in their community and across the state of Ohio,” he says.

H2Ohio was developed with input from a broad coalition of agriculture, education, research, conservation, and environmental partners.