Ohio Water Systems to Map Lead Pipe Locations by Spring

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Ohio water systems are mapping where lead pipes are located at in the systems under a state law that requires a quicker notification process after lead is found at the tap.

The law took effect in September and requires public water systems to alert residents within two days after elevated levels of lead are detected. The deadline for systems to identify and map lead lines is March 9.

City of Dayton spokeswoman Toni Bankston told the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/2jC3hED ) the city started the mapping process last year and is set to complete it by the end of this month. An area map will be available on the city water department’s web site.

Most of the region’s main lines are not typically lead-based pipes. But service lines are often made of lead if they haven’t been replaced in recent years. For most cities, the standard procedure is to replace the old pipes with copper ones.

The director of Butler County’s water and sewer department, Bob Leventry, said that he isn’t aware of any lead lines in the system.

“Our water system has copper lines,” he said.

State Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Heidi Griesmer said the agency will issue violations for water systems that fail to complete the mapping before the March deadline.

The law required the agency to adopt rules to address lead notification and testing within 120 days after the effective date of the bill. That time period has recently ended.

Griesmer said the Ohio EPA has developed and published guidance and mailers to communicate the requirements to public water systems operators.

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