Canton city officials, as well as officials of Stark County, have expressed concern about the area's water supply.
According to a May 27, 2015 news item, Canton gets its water from an aquifer, and it is possible chlorine could leach into the supply. Recently, Stark County held a road salt summit, discussing the problems the area faces from the salt it uses each winter to keep the roads open.
The city's water commission chose an environmental consulting firm and had it study the aquifers that supply Canton's water. The aquifers are underground “valleys”, about 400 feet underground, filled with finely-grained gravel and soil. They act as natural filters for fresh water, and they hold a tremendous amount. The study revealed a need for action, though Allen Schulman, president of the Canton City Council, said there is nothing wrong yet. However, the situation is serious enough to take action now.
To that end, Canton is moving one of its salt storage depots, which currently sits directly over a well field. They are taking the action based on the study's findings, and using the recommendations of the consultants to guide their efforts to protect the water supply. Schulman expects more action on the issue later this summer.
The water issue could be worrying for residents, so Canton officials might consider working with brochure printers on a booklet to mail out, explaining the problem and what they are doing to alleviate the situation.
