Mahoning health board continues testing Sebring water

SEBRING — The Mahoning County Board of Health staff has been busy collecting and lead-testing water samples from licensed food sellers connected to the Sebring public water supply system, for which the state has declared a water-supply emergency based on elevated lead levels.

Meanwhile, a published report says the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has disciplined two agency workers concerning the village’s lead-contamination problem.

The Columbus Dispatch reported two agency employees were placed on administrative leave.

EPA officials have said the two were “too patient” with the Sebring public water system, which found out in August that at least three homes in its water system had water that contained unsafe levels of lead.

Today, BOH staff visited the last of 36 county-licensed food-selling premises in the system, having already visited the other 35, said Ryan Tekac, environmental health director for the county board of health.

The village also announced a schedule of free bottled drinking water distribution to residential and business Sebring public water system customers at the Sebring Community Center, 305 W. Texas Ave.

The distribution hours will be 2 to 7 p.m. today and Thursday; 7 a.m. to noon, Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The center will not distribute water Sunday.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com