ASHVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a Notice of Violation to the Village of Ashville following a sanitary survey that identified multiple deficiencies at the village’s water facility, according to a Feb. 18, 2026, notice from the Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters.
The notice states that Ohio EPA staff conducted a sanitary survey of the Ashville Village Public Water System on Jan. 22, 2026, to assess compliance with Ohio drinking water laws.
Among the cited issues, inspectors reported that sodium hypochlorite tanks lacked proper access covers in the lids, potentially allowing dirt, debris, insects, and other contaminants to enter. The notice states that chemical tanks are required to have tight-fitting lids to prevent contamination and reduce chemical off-gassing.
The EPA also observed a leak in the 100,000-gallon elevated storage tank, with water spraying from it. The notice instructs the village to repair the leak and then provide photos showing that the repair has been completed.
Additionally, the agency noted that well #4 has been offline for repairs since August 2024 to address issues with the well casing. According to the notice, this creates a risk to the system because there is no backup water source if another well were to fail. The EPA directed the village to complete repairs, reinstall the pump, and properly disinfect, flush, and bacteriologically test the well before returning it to service for human consumption.
Inspectors also raised concerns about grading and drainage around water infrastructure. The notice states the overflow pipe on the elevated tank empties directly toward one of the tower’s feet without a splash pad or diversion structure, which could lead to soil erosion and structural damage in the event of an overflow. The EPA said the pipe should be extended away from the base and a hard surface installed to direct water safely away, potentially in conjunction with planned tower renovations in August 2026.
Further, the survey found sunken soil beneath the central support post of a 300,000-gallon elevated storage tank following recent construction. The EPA directed the village to fill the depression with clean fill dirt to create a positive grade away from the tower’s base.
Under Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3745-81-60, the public water system must respond in writing within 30 days outlining how and on what schedule the violations will be addressed and corrected, according to the notice. The agency warned that failure to comply with state drinking water laws “may result in an administrative or civil penalty.”
A separate Feb. 18 inspection letter tied to the same sanitary survey states that inspectors discovered additional administrative and operational failings, including inconsistencies in sample site naming compared to the approved sample siting plan, incomplete logbook entries without operator initials, and blank spaces between entries, and recommendations to annually exercise critical distribution valves rather than on a three-year rotation. The agency further noted operator registration documentation needed to be updated and recommended monitoring deterioration of the concrete base supporting high-service pumps, according to the Feb. 18 inspection letter.
Letter to the village:
You can view the entire NOV below: