CINCINNATI — Nearly two billion people across the world don’t have access to clean water, according to a report by the United Nations. That’s why on March 22, 2023, which is designated as World Water Day, there’s a push to highlight the work being done to keep water clean and safe.

What You Need To Know

  • March 22nd is World Water Day

  • It's a day to raise awareness around the importance of clean water and the efforts to keep it clean

  • The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission is an organization focused on improving water quality

  • ORSANCO worked with the Greater Cincinnati Water Works to protect the Ohio River near Cincinnati from the chemical spill in East Palestine

Richard Harrison began his career in the water utilities industry more than three decades ago, all in hopes of making a positive difference for the environment. 

“It’s such an incredible profession to be involved in and the folks that you work with are dedicated professionals and just the joy to be doing something that’s very meaningful,” said Harrison.

Now, as the executive director of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), he and his team have been focused on improving water quality across southwest Ohio for more than a million people. Last year, ORSANCO collected nearly 72 tons of trash along the river.

“We work on making sure that rivers and streams are suitable for sustaining fish, other aquatic life, bugs, muscles and we work to make sure the river is suitable as drinking industrial water supply,” he said.

A month ago, ORSANCO worked with the Greater Cincinnati Water Works to make sure the water in the Ohio River was protected against the water from the East Palestine chemical spill. Although the chemical levels were undetectable by that point, GCWW still took precautionary measures to make sure nothing went wrong.

“We’re continuing to monitor for those chemicals and we continue to get non-detects,” he said. “And we’re also working with our partners for additional sampling and Greater Cincinnati Water Works is running those on behalf of those different utilities.”

Keeping the water safe and clean is something the public can take part in, too. One of those ways is by making sure not to litter. Harrison said we’re fortunate to have access to clean drinking water, because that’s not always the case in other countries.

“Everything that we do, everything that we discard, can ultimately end up in the water supply,” he said. “So, it’s something to keep in mind of and be aware of. And the smallest of habit changes can make a difference.”