The Junction Coalition, spurred by various neighborhood environmental, housing, and public health needs, has been developing public and private partnerships since 2010 to combat the neighborhood blight of vacant lots and abandoned houses, educational disparities, and communication gaps among stakeholders. When participation in the EPA’s Urban Water Initiative through the Toledo Metropolitan Council of Governments (TMACOG) became possible, an effort was launched to educate Junction Community residents about storm water issues and their alleviation by various kinds of green infrastructure practices.
The water crisis of August 2014 affected almost half a million northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan residents who depend on Toledo for safe drinking water. More importantly, the crisis pointed out the larger need of total watershed education and community action, as well as the role that each Western Lake Erie Basin urban neighborhood plays in water quality issues. The response of our neighborhood made safe drinking water available to our elderly and homebound, many of whom were not aware of the advisory, as young people initiated door-to-door information and water distribution
A combined sewer separation project began in our neighborhood in August as a decade-long project of the Toledo Waterways Initiative in older Toledo districts and will include green infrastructure installations. In the meantime, our community is already benefiting from the creation of two retention cells at an intersection identified as the worst-flooded during heavy rain events—Belmont and Forest.
The demolition of four dilapidated homes made three lots available on one corner for what is currently the largest residential retention cell in Toledo. One vacant lot on the opposite corner is a combined pond and rain garden with eaves draining water from the home next to the pond. Each pond also has drainage off the streets to mimic curb cut-ins which will be installed where street repaving takes place during the larger combined sewer separation at the east portion of the Junction Community.
The toxins that we as people in society are exposed to is turning into a national crisis that is going unnoticed. Multiple cities are exposed to these toxins and may not even realize it. It is important that we stay educated and know about our water and what is happening in our area.
Flint, MI – Lead
Benton Harbour, MI – Lead, PFas
Toledo, OH – Microcystins
Detroit, MI – Lead
Policies must change, in order for change!
MICROCYSTIN–environmental neurotoxin
These toxin links directly to brain degeneration & other health risks
Alzheimer’s Disease
Lou Gehrigs Disease
Parkinson’s Disease
Abdominal pain/liver, pancreatic failure
What can we do
Teach One Reach One
Partnerships with Local, State, Regional and Federal Authorities & Environmental Agencies
Policy Education & Information Sharing
Bridge the Gap between the Toxins to everyday life
Community Education- Community Participatory Action-Testing, Awareness
Continue to educate
