7 times we covered water quality issues in your community

A new state law is forcing public water utilities, like Dayton's, to identify how many lead pipes are found in their systems. The Dayton Daily News reviewed hundreds of public records to analyze the water systems in nine local counties, and found that thousands of cities, counties, schools and businesses are connected to pipes that most likely contain lead. READ MORE

2. Does your community have lead pipes?

The Dayton Daily News identified dozens of cities, counties, schools and businesses in Southwest Ohio that indicated there was a high probability of lead service lines in their systems.

However, some areas that were developed in later years claim that they had no lead service lines in their systems. Systems operated by cities or counties could submit a verification form to the EPA claiming to have no lead service lines. FIND YOUR COMMUNITY

3. COMMON QUESTIONS: What you should know about lead pipes, water quality

Water quality issues can be a complicated topic to grasp, and can often lead residents uneasy about consuming tap water. Local water utilities want to ensure customers that the water quality is strong in the Miami Valley. READ MORE

4. Partial pipe replacements may be tainting drinking water

A push to replace aging infrastructure to improve water quality throughout the country may be having the unintended consequence of exposing residents to dangerous levels of lead.

Water experts say replacing mains and service lines, some dating to the 1800s, is necessary. But the replacements can increase the amount of lead in water — indefinitely, some claim — because of corrosion that gets disturbed in the lead pipes that run into a homeowner's property. READ MORE

5. Lead scare at hospital traced to construction project

The possible threat of tainted drinking water was highlighted earlier this year when elevated lead levels were found in part of the water supply at Miami Valley Hospital.

In late June, water samples at the hospital tested five to 10 times above the Environmental Protection Agency's guideline for lead amounts. The Dayton Daily News first reported the hospital found elevated lead levels in the southeast addition of the campus. READ MORE

6. Miami Valley Hospital hires Flint water crisis expert

Miami Valley Hospital has enlisted the help of a Flint, Mich. water crisis expert to find out what’s causing elevated lead levels in its water supply.

The hospital is no closer to finding the source of elevated lead levels in water at some campus buildings, officials announced Tuesday afternoon. The water samples tested remained around the same amount as original levels showed more than a week ago, said Mark Shaker, chief executive officer of Miami Valley Hospital. READ MORE

7. Multiple locations found to have high lead levels at Dayton hospital

Multiple locations on Miami Valley Hospital’s campus have elevated levels of lead in the drinking water supply, health officials have found.

Miami Valley Hospital was notified Friday by state regulators that lead levels found in the drinking water at the hospital's southeast addition were above acceptable levels and may pose a health risk. After additional testing this week, elevated lead levels were also found in other buildings — the Berry Women's Center and the Fred E. Weber Center for Health Education — at the campus on South Main Street near downtown. READ MORE

CONTINUED COVERAGE 

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