MARTINS FERRY — The city of Martins Ferry still is waiting for the results of recent testing done on its raw water for radium.

Mayor John Davies decided to have the testing conducted after hearing concerns from a couple of Bridgeport residents about the city’s water aquifer potentially becoming contaminated from waste from the nearby Austin Master Services facility.

Austin Master Services recycles radioactive fracking waste at the site located along First Street in the city. The city’s water treatment plant also is located on First Street.

Davies has said previously the city’s treated drinking water has not tested positive for any radium. However, out of curiosity and to provide some peace of mind for residents he decided to have a raw, or untreated, sample of water tested by an independent laboratory.

The city’s water samples were sent to Pace labs in mid-August. Davies said Thursday that he would check to see if the results had come back to the city yet. When they do, he plans to make them public.

Bridgeport resident Bev Reed, who also is a member of the Concerned Ohio River Citizens group, has expressed concern about the plant during Martins Ferry City Council meetings. She is concerned if there is a potential disaster or fire at the plant that the resulting water runoff will impact the city’s aquifer. Davies has said previously that he does believe it would impact the city’s aquifer.

Reed recently held a public event at City Park featuring experts who also expressed concern about the environmental and health impacts the Austin Master Services plant could have.

Guest speakers included Julie Weatherington-Rice, a geologist, earth scientist and groundwater and water quality expert from Worthington, Ohio; Silverio Caggiano, a retired battalion fire chief from Youngstown, Ohio, who also is an Ohio State Hazmat and Weapons of Mass Destruction Technical Advisory Board member; and James Yskamp, a lawyer with Earth Justice.

Weatherington-Rice said at that time that she believes it is just a matter of time before the aquifer becomes contaminated. The city, she said, needs to have groundwater monitoring wells to monitor for radium so it can head off any issues.

Reed also noted during the meeting that the most recent tests — in 2020 and 2014 — by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency of the city’s water showed there was zero radium. Weatherington-Rice said this means it was “non-detectable.” She said testing for radium every six years is not frequent enough because “you have a known source” of radium at the Austin Master plant.

Davies has said previously, however, that he does not agree with everything the group is espousing, adding he believes they are “fear-mongering.”