TMACOG Water Quality Department

Water Quality
planning
We live in a water-rich region. Dozens of rivers
and streams meander across northwest Ohio
and southeast Michigan. All ultimately drain to
Lake Erie, our greatest natural resource. The lake
provides us with abundant fresh water for drinking,
commerce, agriculture, and recreation. TMACOG’s
goal is to protect that vital resource. Our tools
are policies, member education, and crossjurisdictional
partnerships. Improvements to Lake
Erie rely on regional cooperation and on state and
federal funding.
Water & Sewer Infrastructure
TMACOG’s areawide water quality management
plan has long been an efficient and cost-effective
system for managing wastewater treatment.
TMACOG members work together to coordinate
long-term infrastructure investments in both
sewerage and public water supply.
Toledo Metropolitan
Area Council
of Governments
We know that water pollutants and excess
nutrients come from many sources, including
agriculture, suburban development, urban
stormwater, sewage treatment systems, and septic
tanks. We also know that it is more efficient and
less costly for governments to prevent pollution
than to treat the polluted water. TMACOG’s
Water Quality Planning programs work with
many governmental and private sector partners
to identify and control sources of pollution
and nutrients that feed harmful algae blooms.
Our planning activities identify and promote
best practices for sewage treatment, drainage,
agriculture, and land use that safeguard the lake.
Stormwater Management
Water that runs off developed areas carries
many pollutants including automotive fluids,
nutrients, bacteria, sediment, and other wastes
and litter. The stormwater program helps local
officials and developers manage stormwater and
meet regulations. It promotes the use of green
infrastructure such as wetlands, floodplains, rain
gardens or bioswales to capture and naturally
treat many pollutants.

Water Quality
Non-point Source Pollution
With more than 70 percent of our region
dedicated to agriculture, farming is a vital part of
our economy and regional community. Reducing
runoff from agricultural land and other nonpoint
sources protects Lake Erie by controlling
nutrients. TMACOG coordinates regional nonpoint
source planning and supports agricultural
best management practices that control the
drainage of nutrient-laden water from farm fields.
Education and Training
TMACOG hosts educational programs for elected
officials, stakeholder agencies, the general
public, and students. The Student Watershed
Watch involves middle-school and high-school
classrooms in hands-on water quality research
in local waterways. TMACOG presentations at
meetings and special events provide learning
opportunities and continuing education
programs for public officials and private sector
stakeholders. TMACOG provides training for
municipal maintenance staff as well as water and
wastewater plant operators.
The Power of Partnerships
Regular TMACOG committee meetings create
the personal connections, professional rapport,
and trust that are key to addressing a mutual
commitment to water quality. When public
officials, local non-profits, and the private sector
steadily work together in non-partisan TMACOG
forums, strong relationships lead to effective
action.
TMACOG’s Water Quality committees
welcome your involvement
• Water Quality Council
• Watersheds Committee
• Wastewater Committee
• Stormwater Coalition
• Public Water Supply Committee
• Agriculture Committee
The Water Quality Planning department and the
Transportation department are the two programmatic
divisions of TMACOG. The staff perform the research,
public input, and analysis required to maintain compliance
with federal and state regulations. They also manage the
committees that ensure that members of the region are fully
informed and can fully participate in the region’s plans.
For more information on any Water Quality committee or to
comment on any water quality concern, contact Director of
Water Quality Planning Kari Gerwin: gerwin@tmacog.org or
419.241.9155, ext. 1103.
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
300 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Suite 300
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: 419.241.9155 | public.info@tmacog.org
www.tmacog.org