[image-1]Friday saw the release of a new batch of voluntary water tests from the Ohio EPA in the small village of Sebring. In brief: 144 of the 150 samples tested below the federal allowable limit for lead (15 parts per billion).
The news brings with it a collective sigh of relief, as well as a reminder to the village that it must still provide bottled water or filtration systems to homes where leads levels remain over the 15 ppb threshold.
Voluntary testing is expected to continue.
Among the more lasting consequences of this ordeal will be the review of how the Ohio EPA and Sebring village government handled the lead advisory process. Residents grew irate once they began learning how early the lead problem had been identified in Sebring. The state agency and the local village council and city manager deflected blame among one another.
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