Monday, February 5, 2024

Ohio EPA sample testing in Sebring reveals near complete compliance with federal lead standards

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) recently released the test results from 259 households sampled in Sebring, Ohio, which show that all but nine of them are within the federal standards for lead levels.

The Ohio EPA has been working closely with the local Sebring officials and has required the city to offer residential water testing, among other measures. While Sebring’s water source and water treatment plant have no detectable lead, the water system’s chemistry has caused corrosion, leading to lead leaching from older homes with lead plumbing.

In addition to the testing, the Ohio EPA is also requiring Sebring to provide filtration systems or bottled water for homes that are found to have lead concentrations higher than the federal allowable level. The city must also provide health screening for the community.

The agency is working with the city to adjust its water system chemistry to prevent corrosion and Ohio EPA staff, including Director Craig Butler, recently met with Sebring officials to determine short- and long-term goals for the water system, which the city will be required to uphold.

The Ohio EPA is currently testing more samples, and will release the results of those tests in the coming days as they become available.