ATTENTION:

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Petition for Transparency and Clear Communication Regarding Marion, Ohio Water Of Aqua of Ohio and our town council 

To: Relevant City Officials, Water Utility Representatives (AQUA of Ohio Robert "Bob" Davis), and Regulatory Oversight Bodies

From: Concerned Residents of Marion, Ohio 

 
Statement of Concern:

Firstly, Robert "Bob" Davis: Your role as CEO of Aqua of Ohio is to ensure the water quality and safety for us residents. As President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Aqua Ohio, a subsidiary of Essential Utilities, Inc.,  YOU Mr. Davis are responsible for leading strategy, operations, and administration for the company's water and wastewater treatment facilities. Aqua Ohio provides water and wastewater services to approximately 500,000 residents across the state. You failed the city of Marion, Ohio and surrounding areas. Safe drinking water is not optional—it is a basic public necessity. Executive leadership must be held accountable, and city oversight must be exercised, so residents are never again left unaware of a potential risk to their health.

This failure to notify deprived residents of the opportunity to take precautionary measures and undermined public trust. Water utilities are required to communicate early and transparently, even while testing or mitigation is ongoing. Delayed or absent notification is not a minor procedural oversight—it is a breach of public duty.

We, the undersigned residents of Marion, Ohio, respectfully request transparency, clear communication, and documented accountability regarding ongoing water issues affecting our community.

Recent events have raised questions among residents about water quality, treatment processes, testing timelines, and communication practices. These concerns have been publicly discussed by community members and independent local watchdog groups, including Marion Watch – Operation Marion Watchmen, whose ongoing analysis has contributed to public awareness.

Our intent is not to assign blame or incite alarm, but to ensure residents are provided with timely, clear, and understandable information regarding matters that directly impact public health and daily life.

Recent events in Marion, Ohio have left many residents, including myself, deeply concerned about the quality of our water. Questions have arisen about the safety of our water supply, the processes employed for its treatment, the timelines for testing, and the communication methods used to inform residents of any issues. These concerns are not merely individual worries but have been publicly discussed within our community by residents and independent local watchdog groups. Organizations such as Marion Watch – Operation Marion Watchmen have dedicated themselves to analyzing and disseminating important information about this critical resource, significantly contributing to public awareness. Companies such as PureH2OofOhio, offered residents free water testing, during this major concern of the smell/odor of the tap water coming out of our water supply. 

Accountability & Failure to Notify the Public:

• In addition to addressing the ongoing water quality concerns in Marion and surrounding communities, there must be clear accountability at the highest level of Aqua’s leadership.
• As the chief executive officer of Aqua, the CEO bears ultimate responsibility for the company’s operational oversight, regulatory compliance, and public communication practices. The repeated failures surrounding this water crisis raise serious concerns about corporate neglect, transparency, and public safety.
• Residents were not properly or promptly notified that there was an issue with the water supply, despite Aqua’s obligation under public health and environmental regulations to issue immediate notices when water quality is compromised or under investigation. This lack of timely communication denied residents the ability to make informed decisions to protect their health, particularly vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

We are formally requesting that Marion City Council:

Address Aqua’s failure to provide timely public notification regarding water quality concern:

Enter Aqua’s lack of transparency into the public record.
Demand a clear explanation for why required notices were not issued.
Require accountability from Aqua’s executive leadership, including the CEO.  Robert "Bob" Davis
Ensure safeguards are put in place so residents are never left uninformed again.
This is not simply an operational issue—it is a matter of public trust, corporate responsibility, and community safety. When a utility company fails to communicate known or suspected risks, the consequences fall directly on the people it is meant to serve. It took six days, for Aqua of Ohio to test their own  water, AFTER residents had done their own testing. #SIXDAYS

The health and well-being of our community depend on the water we consume. Clean, safe water is a fundamental right, and ensuring its quality should be a top priority for our local authorities. However, the current lack of transparency in communication and ambiguous testing procedures have led to widespread distrust among residents. No community member should be left in the dark about the quality of the water that flows into their homes.

Our goal is to demand more transparent, clear, and frequent communication from the Marion City Water Department regarding the quality of our water. We urge them to provide consistent updates on water treatment methods and testing results, along with immediate notifications about any potential issues. We also call for public meetings and forums where residents can voice their concerns and receive direct responses from officials.

Moreover, we request the implementation of a detailed online dashboard that offers real-time updates on water quality metrics, treatment methods, and testing results. Transparency can only be achieved when information is readily accessible and understandable to the public.

We believe that with better transparency and clear communication, trust can be rebuilt between the residents of Marion and our local water authorities. Our health and peace of mind are worth fighting for, and we have the right to be informed about the water that sustains us all.

Please sign this petition to urge Marion City officials to commit to transparency and keep us informed about the status of our water supply. Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier future for Marion, Ohio.

Recent events have raised questions among residents about water quality, treatment processes, testing timelines, and communication practices. These concerns have been publicly discussed by community members and independent local watchdog groups, including Marion Watch – Operation Marion Watchmen, whose ongoing analysis has contributed to public awareness.

Our intent is not to assign blame or incite alarm, but to ensure residents are provided with timely, clear, and understandable information regarding matters that directly impact public health and daily life.

 
We respectfully request the following:

Clear public communication regarding the nature of recent water issues, including explanations written in plain language.
Transparency around testing procedures, timelines, and decision-making processes related to water treatment changes.
Confirmation that resident concerns are formally entered into the public record and addressed through appropriate channels.
Advance notice and explanation of any future flushing, source changes, or treatment adjustments.
Opportunities for community engagement, including public meetings or forums where residents may ask questions and receive documented responses.
 
Purpose of This Petition

This petition serves as a formal request for acknowledgment and dialogue. It reflects community interest in understanding how decisions are made and how resident health concerns are addressed.

Signing this petition does not imply panic, accusation, or hostility — only a shared desire for transparency, accountability, and trust between residents and those responsible for public water systems.

Path Forward: Cooperation for Public Safety

Town Council has the authority and responsibility to address Aqua’s failure to communicate with its consumers regarding contaminated or potentially compromised drinking water. Residents were not notified within a proper and reasonable timeline, despite Aqua’s obligation to inform the public when water safety concerns arise.

This lack of timely notification represents a neglect of consumer responsibility and a breakdown in public trust. Council may formally require Aqua to explain why notices were delayed or not issued, place this failure into the public record, and work collaboratively with Aqua to ensure transparent, timely communication moving forward.

Safe drinking water depends not only on treatment, but on clear and immediate communication. Residents must never again be left unaware of potential risks to their health.

The failure to notify consumers in a timely manner constitutes neglect of Aqua’s duty to its customers and warrants formal council review and accountability.

This is not about blame for its own sake. It is about protecting public health and restoring confidence in the safety of our drinking water. We are calling for coordinated action between Marion City Council and Aqua, including executive leadership, to:

Strengthen notification and transparency requirements
Improve inter-agency communication during water quality events
Guarantee residents are informed immediately when risks arise
Ensure safeguards are in place to prevent future failures
Safe drinking water is not optional—it is a basic public necessity. Executive leadership must be held accountable, and city oversight must be exercised, so residents are never again left unaware of a potential risk to their health.

Closing statement

“When residents are left uninformed, accountability must rise to the highest level—and cooperation between the city and Aqua must ensure this never happens again.”

#PublicInterest
#CommunityVoices
#ConcernedNotPanicked
#AccountabilityMatters
#OurWaterOurVoice

#AquaofOhio