Olander Park lake tapped during Toledo water crisis

60,000 gallons of fresh water sent to distribution centers

8/5/2014
BY NATALIE TRUSSO CAFARELLO
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Local fire departments responded to a request Saturday evening from the Lucas County Emergency Center, activating an emergency plan to draw water from the spring-fed lake using pumper trucks that were parked on the boat dock.
Local fire departments responded to a request Saturday evening from the Lucas County Emergency Center, activating an emergency plan to draw water from the spring-fed lake using pumper trucks that were parked on the boat dock.

During the weekend water crisis, Sylvania Township spearheaded efforts to draw more than 60,000 gallons of fresh water from the lake at Olander Park, which was treated and distributed at water distribution stations throughout the area.

Local fire departments responded to a request Saturday evening from the Lucas County Emergency Center, activating an emergency plan to draw water from the spring-fed lake using pumper trucks that were parked on the boat dock. The firefighters drafted about 36,800 gallons of water on Saturday night and about 31,000 gallons Sunday, Sylvania Township Fire Chief Jeff Kowalski said.

Wauseon, Liberty Center, Elmore, Archbold, Carroll Township, Portage, Erie Township, Catawba Island Township, Damascus, and Napoleon fire departments provided tankers for the effort.

Firefighters drove the water to temporary purification sites operated by the National Guard. One was located at University of Toledo Scott Park Test Center, 2225 Nebraska Ave. The second location was at Woodward High School, 701 E. Central Ave.

Chief Kowalski said the purified water was dispatched to more than 20 distribution sites in the Toledo area and nearby Michigan.

Contact Natalie Trusso Cafarello at: 419-206-0356, or ntrusso@theblade.com, or on Twitter @natalietrusso.