The agency also has reason to suspect that the operator falsified reports, so it has opened an investigation and is requesting assistance from U.S. EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division.
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“It has become apparent that our field office was too patient in dealing with the village of Sebring’s “cat and mouse” game and should have had closer scrutiny on the water system meeting its deadlines”, he said in the release.
Sebring schools in Mahoning County will be closed Monday for more water testing.
Water testing discovered lead levels of 21 parts per billion in several homes in the region, according to Reuters, and the action level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is when levels reach 15 parts per billion.
Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage brains and cause other health problems.
EPA warns some Sebring residents not to drink tap water because of lead levels. EPA also tested the city’s water treatment plant, and confirmed results were “healthy” and had “no detectable lead”.
– State environmental officials have been running additional tests of water in a northeast OH village after elevated levels of lead and copper were found during tests at a handful of homes.
BL Miller Elementary School: Three tests had no detection of lead and two detections were below the allowable level.
A posting on the district’s website on Sunday morning had said the schools’ water was safe and classes would resume Monday.
“Our primary focus is to distribute this water to pregnant women, infants and children”, said Mahoning Emergency Management Agency Director Dennis O’Hara.
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A blood lead screening clinic was held Sunday for area residents under age 6, along with pregnant or breastfeeding women who get their water from the village.
