OCR Text |
Show Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Compact, 1939 Whereas, a substantial part of the territory of each of the signatory states is situated within the drainage basin of the Ohio River; and Whereas, the rapid increase in the population of the various metro- politan areas situated within the Ohio drainage basin, and the growth in industrial activity within that area, have resulted in recent years in an increasingly serious pollution of the waters and streams within the said drainage basin, constituting a grave menace to the health, welfare, and recreational facilities of the people living in such basin, and occasioning great economic loss; and Whereas, the control of future pollution and the abatement of exist- ing pollution in the waters of said basin are of prime importance to the people thereof, and can best be accomplished through the coopera- tion of the States situated therein, by and through a joint or common agency; Now, Therefore, The States of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia do hereby covenant and agree as follows: ARTICLE I Each of the signatory States pledges to each of the other signatory States faithful cooperation in the control of future pollution in and abatement of existing pollution from the rivers, streams, and waters in the Ohio River basin which flow through, into or border upon any of such signatory States, and in order to effect such object, agrees to enact any necessary legislation to enable each such State to place and maintain the waters of said basin in a satisfactory sanitary condition, available for safe and satisfactory use as public and industrial water supplies after reasonable treatment, suitable for recreational usage, capable of maintaining fish and other aquatic life, free from unsightly or malodorous nuisances due to floating solids or sludge deposits, and adaptable to such other uses as may be legitimate. article n The signatory States hereby create a district to be known as the "Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation District," hereinafter called the District, which shall embrace all territory within the signatory States, the water in which flows ultimately into the Ohio River, or its tributaries. 231 |