4 of 30 water sources at Oakhill test high for lead

February 28, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

After learning that water from four of 30 fountains and sinks tested at Oak- hill Renaissance Place this week tested above the federal allowable limit for lead, Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said water will be tested in all county-owned or county-controlled buildings.

Three of the four that tested above 15 parts per billion are in the Youngstown City Health Department, including clinic Room 29 – 34.4 parts per billion; clinic room 33 – 67.4 parts per billion; and the break room – 47.1 parts per billion.

The other source that tested above allowable limits was the Job and Family Services fourth-floor bathroom – 15.8 parts per billion.

Twenty-six other water sources tested were below 15 parts per billion, and the vast majority were fewer than 5 parts per billion, said Traficanti.

Commissioner Chairwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti said all fountains in Oakhill Renaissance will be shut off, and bottled water will be provided.

Traficanti said results of the testing done by the Mahoning County District Board of Health’s lab were received Friday. “With what happened in Sebring, nothing would surprise me. Flint kicked it off. We have to address the fountains and sinks that are elevated. We need to monitor more and deal with the elevated levels,” Traficanti said.

He was referring to the recent discovery in Sebring of lead in home water systems, which was uncovered after Flint, Mich., residents became aware their water has contained lead since the city changed its water source to save money, although city officials withheld that information. Locally, elevated lead levels also have been discovered in the LaBrae Local School District in Trumbull County. (See Page A11.)

Mahoning County health officials will give potentially affected workers at Oakhill free blood tests.

None of the water sources with elevated lead levels is in any area used by the public.