Sebring gets $400K federal grant to help with lead abatement in village water supply

Staff report

SEBRING

The village has secured a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant of more than $400,000 to help it cover expenses related to its water-supply system.

The grant, which requires no local matching money, was announced Friday by village Manager Richard D. Giroux.

“This award substantially minimizes the financial impact of the water crisis to the village,” Giroux said.

The grant is coming from the USDA’s emergency and imminent community water assistance program.

Sebring has been working on water-chemistry adjustments to reduce leaching of lead from homeowners’ plumbing into tap water.

The village recently completed installation of the temporary feed for orthophosphate, a chemical that coats pipes to prevent leaching.

Joined by local leaders and federal officials, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, will discuss the grant at a 10:15 a.m. news conference Monday in Sebring village council chambers.

Read more about the situation in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.