3rd round of water tests in Sebring shows most below limit

Staff report

SEBRING

The Ohio EPA released a third round of tap water test results Friday from Sebring Village homeowners who asked to have their water tested for lead.

It determined that 144 of the 150 samples were below the federal allowable limit for lead, which is 15 parts per billion.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency ordered Sebring on Jan. 21 to offer free water testing for any homeowner who asked, and said it will make those results public as they are received.

Combined with earlier voluntary test results received last week, 394 of 409 samples have been below the federal allowable level, according to the OEPA.

The OEPA continues to work closely with Sebring and the U.S. EPA to fine-tune the water chemistry to minimize lead leaching into the water from pipes in certain homes. Recent test results confirm that the village’s water plant is lead-free.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of test results are below the federal allowable level, the village is still required to provide bottled water or filtration systems to homes where results are over the federal allowable level, and work with the county to provide health screening for residents.

Distribution of bottled water this week at Sebring Community Center, 305 W. Texas Ave., is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 7 a.m. to noon Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. There will be no water distribution today or Thursday.

In addition, the OEPA said in its press release, the village must complete all immediate, short-term, and long-term actions required by the OEPA director. To minimize their lead exposure, all residents should follow guidance in public education documents provided by the village.