By KIMBERLY LEWIS

News Leader Editor

The discovery of thousands of dead fish along Sandy Creek, near Minerva's wastewater plant, June 17 has spawned an investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

According to Minerva Service Director Steve Jackson, the employees of the plant noticed a slight discoloration in the clarifiers, the final step in the disinfection process, as they left on the night of Monday, June 16.

When they returned at 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, they discovered the clarifiers' product, which is supposed to be clear, looked like weak milk. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife arrived to investigate after a report was called in about the dead fish.

"The case remains under investigation," reports Brett Barnes, state wildlife investigator. He said approximately 5,000 dead fish have been counted.

Barnes explains the spill of the whey, a milk byproduct in the cheese-making process, from the Minerva Cheese Factory entered into the sanitary sewers, moving directly to the village's sewer plant and bypassing the factory's plant. He noted the village's plant "is not capable of handling a spill like this."

Upon checking out a manhole near the Minerva Cheese Factory, Jackson discovered it looked similar to the weak milk color at the plant. Afer contacting Phil Mueller of the Minerva Cheese Factory, Mueller checked the factory's system and within a short time, the problem was fixed, Jackson said.

The product is organic and is not toxic to humans or pets, Barnes said. "It depleted the oxygen in the water, essentially suffocating the fish," he explained. "We could see where the raccoons had already eaten some of the fish. Those raccoons are eating well."

Jackson said Minerva Volunteer Fire Department pumped water out of the creek in an effort to increase the oxygen in the creek's water. As well, the village purchased a pond aerator forcing air into the water since June 18.

"Our (wastewater) plant is a living organism that feeds off itself," Jackson explained. A spill like this "kills the plant and it takes a few days to get it up and running," he said.

"This spill was not intentional on either the city or the cheese factory's part," Barnes said. The Division of Wildlife is concerned with any wild animals being illegally killed and investigates any incidents where wild animals are killed.

After the investigation is completed, wildlife officials will meet with the Minerva Cheese Factory and the Village of Minerva, regarding responsibility.