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Ohio EPA: New Lebanon's plant filters aging; flushing and a rate study recommended
Summary
Ohio EPA officials told the New Lebanon Village Council that the village's groundwater has high iron and manganese and that filter media in the water plant are likely near the end of their useful life. EPA advised targeted flushing and a financial rate study as short- and medium-term steps and pointed residents to grant and technical assistance options.
Ohio EPA representatives told the New Lebanon Village Council on July 21 that the village's drinking water issues stem largely from naturally high iron and manganese in local wells and aging filter media at the water treatment plant, and offered short-term and long-term options to reduce discoloration, taste and odor problems.
"We are here today to provide information about the village drinking water system," said Yin, an inspector with the Ohio EPA Drinking Water Division, who described recent monitoring results and regulatory contact with the village. Yin said the agency issued a violation letter in February after monitoring showed elevated iron and recommended replacing filter media and instituting more frequent maintenance and flushing. "The filter media haven't been changed" for many years, Yin said, and some filters are likely near the end of their effective lifespan.
The Ohio EPA representatives told the council that while the discolored or odorous water is unpalatable for residents, the agency's tests show the water poses no immediate health risk. "While the water may be unpleasant to drink, this issue is not a risk to your house," Yin said, adding the principal concerns are taste, color and odor rather than bacterial contamination.
For short-term relief, the EPA recommended stepped-up hydrant flushing and, where feasible, unidirectional flushing that isolates and clears deposits from distribution mains. Dina Pierce, Ohio EPA communications staff, said flushing programs should be paired with public notices so households know when to purge their plumbing. "Our job is to make sure that they're producing quality water," Pierce said, and she urged residents to report discoloration to the EPA via its online complaint portal.
On financing, EPA staff said the village's first practical step is a rates study to align water rates with necessary maintenance and capital planning. Yin described a roughly $20,000 grant program that can fund an initial rate-study phase and recommended technical partners such as the Ohio Rural Water Association and RCAP (the rural community assistance program) to identify funding routes. Village staff confirmed the council has a five-year financial plan and said it expects to propose rate increases starting in 2027 to restore fund balances and pay for repairs.
Residents pressed for clearer communication after recent unplanned flushing produced yellow water for some households. Several residents asked for a neighborhood schedule, newsletters or website alerts; staff agreed to improve notices once a flushing maintenance program is established. Utility staff said filter number 1 was taken offline and cleaned and that bids are being solicited to replace media in the larger filters, but cautioned that full plant upgrades or new wells are long-term, higher-cost options.
The Ohio EPA team also outlined limits of local authority: the agency cannot recommend or order in-home plumbing changes and cannot pay for municipal capital projects; its role is regulatory oversight, technical guidance and help identifying funding opportunities. EPA staff encouraged residents to submit complaints and test requests if they suspect a health risk.
Next steps noted at the meeting included: continued filter inspection and replacement work, development of a flushing schedule with advance public notice, pursuit of a rates study and application for available grants or technical assistance to evaluate long-term solutions.
