Latest lead testing in Sebring, Ohio, homes finds four above federally acceptable levels

Just over 95 percent of homes sampled in Sebring, Ohio, have lead levels within the federally acceptable limits, according to the latest results published by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA).

Of the 54 samples, which were the first tested since a Jan. 21 order from the Ohio EPA requiring the village to provide free testing for any homeowners requesting it, only four returned with elevated lead levels. This brings the total amount of homes with an unacceptable presence of lead to 45 out of 951.

The water coming from Sebring’s water plant does not have any detectable amounts of lead, and the elevated levels in some homes are the result of corrosive water chemistry that is allowing lead to leach into the drinking water from the homes’ plumbing. The Ohio EPA has conducted follow up tests in some of the homes with unacceptable levels and found that the water going into the homes is acceptable and that the lead coming from taps can be eliminated by running the water for 30 seconds to two minutes before use.

The village is currently required to provide bottled water or filtration systems for homes that have been tested and found to have lead levels above the federal allowable limit. Sebring must also provide health screening for residents.