Steubenville Selling 700K Gallons of Water/Day to Chesapeake

The city of Steubenville in Jefferson County, Ohio has struck a deal to sell Chesapeake Energy treated wastewater, untreated river water and potable water—700,000 gallons of it a day for five years.

Mayor Domenick Mucci announced tanker trucks from Chesapeake started loading untreated river water at the filtration plant site Tuesday morning.

"We will be shipping them water 24 hours a day for 14 straight days for a well site near Richmond. The untreated water will be used for fracking at that particular well site," said Mucci.

Members of council agreed to a five-year agreement earlier this month to sell up to 700,000 gallons a day of treated wastewater, untreated river water and potable water to the energy company a day.

"We plan to use the revenue from the sale of the water to stop leaks and improve our water system," City Manager Cathy Davison said at a special council meeting on Feb. 8.*

*Steubenville (OH) The Herald-Star (Feb 22, 2012) – Shale industry impact being felt in city