In northeastern Ohio, many urban areas are located over sand and gravel aquifers, where the probability of toxic spills and the quantity of waste material is greater than in sparsely populated areas. Sand and gravel aquifers are very susceptible to contamination. These aquifers are recharged close to or at the land surface, thus recharge water travels only a short distance from the surface to the aquifer, creating the potential for contaminants to reach the aquifer quickly. Further, the Ohio economy is supported by service industries, manufacturing and agriculture. Throughout Wayne County, as well as eastern and northwestern Ohio, oil and gas are produced, and surface mining for coal continues on the south central and southeastern border of the county.
Limestone is quarried west of Fredericksburg.
In Rittman, a major salt company extracts salt from a brine solution pumped from deep deposits. Major sand and gravel deposits suitable for commercial use are in the Killbuck Creek valley, south of Wooster, and in Chippewa and Baughman townships. Agricultural farm land comprises more than 70 percent of the land area of Wayne County. All of these land uses can lead to contamination of ground water if proper care and precautions are not taken. Chemical constituents of selected Wayne County wells.