10th and most recent round included 28 water tests in Sebring

Staff report

SEBRING

The latest round of water tests from Sebring homes have all come back within federal acceptable limits for lead, officials said.

The 10th and most-recent round included 28 tests, all of which registered below the federal threshold for lead of 15 parts per billion, according to an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency news release Friday.

The Ohio EPA ordered the village on Jan. 21 to provide free water tests to all residents upon request.

Sebring has tested the water from a total of 979 residences, including the most-recent 28 samples, according to village Manager Richard Giroux.

There are 20 residential samples above the federal allowable limit of 15 parts per billion, Giroux wrote in an email Friday.

The Ohio EPA recommends Sebring residents minimize lead exposure by letting tap water run for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking it.

Bottled-water distribution continues at the Sebring Community Center, 305 W. Texas Ave., though the supply is limited.

All residents and businesses receiving bottled water must have had their residence or businesses tested, or they will be disqualified from receiving free water. Residents and businesses must show proof they are in the impacted area.

Households and businesses that test OK on water quality will become ineligible to receive the free water. Water is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday; 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Saturday. There is no distribution Sunday or Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Special-needs requests should be made to the village hall at 330-938-9340.