Ohio is moving to reform and tighten its rules on lead in drinking water, including speeding up public notification when problems are found.
The new plan includes tighter deadlines for public drinking water supplies to inform and educate homeowners about high lead levels. New state grants and loans also would be available for communities and schools to replace lead service lines and fixtures.
The plan, part of Gov. John Kasich’s 2016 Mid-Biennium Review, was released late Wednesday by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The rule changes in the plan go to the Ohio legislature for approval. That review will begin next week.
The changes are needed because of shortcomings in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Ohio officials said. Ohio also is working with the state’s congressional delegation to make federal changes to avoid lead problems like those in Sebring and Flint, Mich..
The proposed changes on the state level have been in the works since January, after elevated lead levels were detected in drinking water in the village of Sebring in Mahoning County.
A local official in Sebring failed to add anti-corrosive chemicals to the village water supply, causing lead to leach into the drinking water. Residents were not properly notified after test results showed excessive levels of lead in the water.
Lead is especially dangerous to young children and can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
It became apparent that federal rules for testing lead and notifying residents were falling short of the public’s expectations when it comes to safe drinking water, said Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler.
“We say that is too long for people not to know,” he told the Associated Press.
The proposed changes would make Ohio’s reporting requirements more stringent than federal rules.
City water systems would have two days to alert residents when lead levels are above federal limits.
Current federal rules call for homeowners where the individual tests are done to be told within 30 days and notices for all other residents within 60 days when the entire system exceeds the lead limits.
The state proposal includes a plan to help cities map out and remove lead pipes and to work with schools on replacing drinking fountains and faucets that have lead parts. Two state programs will provide $12 million to help schools fund improvements.
The state plan was greeted with enthusiasm by the Ohio Environmental Council, a statewide eco-group.
“These timely, common sense reforms will go a long way toward ensuring every Ohioans will have access to safe drinking water,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, OEC executive director.
The new proposal from the state would require the Ohio EPA to step in and alert residents if local authorities wait too long.
It also would force labs that test drinking water to complete their work and give the results to public water systems within 30 days, speeding up the process by months in some cases.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.