Village accused of failing to properly notify residents of water test results

Staff report

SEBRING

The Ohio EPA issued a notice of violation Tuesday to Sebring Village for failure to correctly communicate recent test results and guidance to homeowners who requested voluntary water sampling, and failing to submit its required weekly report on water chemistry to the OEPA.

But Village Manager Richard Giroux said he believes the village is in compliance.

In a brief statement Giroux said, “To my knowledge we are complying with all EPA requirements. I’ve been in contact with [the OEPA] all week constantly. I’ll look into tomorrow.”

On Jan. 21, Craig Butler, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency director, mandated that the village offer free water testing for any resident who requested it to give them piece of mind about the quality of their drinking water. Since then, 664 of 698 samples tested below the federal allowable level, including results received Tuesday.

The village is required to notify any resident of their lead results and provide them with an information sheet detailing how to minimize their lead risk.

“When EPA staff followed up this weekend to conduct cautionary testing on a few homes that tested above the federal allowable level, it became evident that the village had not notified these residents of their recent test results as quickly and thoroughly as they should have. I expect the village to keep the public in mind and provide prompt information to its residents,” Butler said.

The weekly report, due each Monday, must detail pH and alkalinity monitoring results. The village failed to submit these reports on Feb. 1 and 8. The OEPA also has required the village to provide contact information for any impacted resident as additional voluntary test results are received so the agency can follow up with those individuals.

As the village collects and processes voluntary water samples taken by hundreds of residents, the OEPA has been following up on some readings in an abundance of caution. These follow-up tests confirm that the water coming into the homes is healthy, and by turning on the tap for several minutes, successfully eliminates any detectable lead in the water.

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

Despite the fact that most 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.

In addition, 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 and, to flush out the lead, run their tap water for 30 seconds to two minutes before using it, Butler said.