More than 10 billion gallons of untreated raw sewage was dumped into Lake Erie from 38 communities across the water basin in 2005, according to a report from an environmental group Wednesday morning.
"Ten billion gallons of sewage floating into Lake Erie is equivalent to three billion toilets flushing into the lake," said Amy Gomberg, a spokeswoman for Environment Ohio, a nonprofit group that presented the sewage study during a Statehouse news conference. "Sewage contamination poses an environmental threat to Lake Erie and a health threat to the millions who swim, boat and fish in it each year."
Joining Gomberg at the news conference was Rep. Scott Oelslager, a North Canton Republican, who will introduce legislation this week calling for public notification of sewage overflows including warning signs posted at sites where the sewage enters the water.
Cleveland, Toledo, Fremont, Sandusky and Akron were the top five offenders with Cleveland's regional sewer system alone dumping almost 5 billion gallons of untreated sewage into Lake Erie in 2005.