Lead found in water at Buckeye Village
Residents should not drink the water
Following a random sample water test of Buckeye Village apartments, Ohio State’s Environmental Health and Safety department found that “five of the 19 units tested revealed elevated lead levels in the drinking water.”
Out of the five units only one of them is currently occupied and the residents have been notified.
At approximately 9:47pm on Tuesday night all Buckeye Village residents received an email about the incident.
Following the result of the random samples, Ohio State assures residents that they will “test every Buckeye Village apartment and take appropriate action to remedy any issues found,” starting Wednesday.
In an update sent on Wednesday afternoon, EHS notified residents that they tested “27 apartments and expect to test 50 more tomorrow.”
They warned residents not to drink the water but that showering is safe. Bottled water is being made accessible to residents at the Community Center desk at Buckeye Village. The EHS stressed the importance of using bottled water for infants, pregnant women, and the elderly.
The water across OSU’s campus “is continuously treated and tested at the City of Columbus treatment facility to meet the requirements,” and is also treated with anti-corrosion agents to prevent contamination from old piping and fixtures.
The bulletin declares that these precautions taken at the treatment facility make it “further unlikely to be a water source issue.”
A current resident, whom has lived at Buckeye Village since August of 2015, expressed their concern saying, “we’re all really worried since so many children live here.”
Chris Davey, Vice President of Media for Ohio State, told The Tab that EHS performed two separate tests as part of the precautionary protocol. He explained:
“The first, referred to as a ‘non-flush’ test, analyzes drinking water from faucets that have gone unused for at least six hours. The second, known as a ‘flush’ test, analyzes the same water after it runs for one to two minutes.”
It has been confirmed that all the results from the flush test came back normal.
Residents are advised to check the CDC website for tips on handling the situation in the meantime. Updated information will be made available to residents as soon as progress is made.
More to follow.