http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/16/apnewsbreak-ohio-lays-out-new-plan-for-toxic-water/

APNewsBreak: Ohio lays out new plan for toxic water warnings
By JOHN SEEWER - Associated Press - Thursday, July 16, 2015

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - If toxins from algae contaminate Ohio’s drinking water again this summer, water warnings will include new alerts for young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

The do-not-drink warnings for different ages and groups will be based on the amount of toxins detected in the water over a 10-day period, according to the guidelines announced Thursday by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The guidelines are based on the U.S. EPA’s new national health advisory levels that were developed after toxic algae on Lake Erie fouled the drinking water produced by Toledo for more than 400,000 people in northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan over two days last August.

A large number of Ohio and local officials along with water plant operators pushed the federal agency to come up with a consistent national standard for algal toxins in drinking water following the Toledo water crisis.

“We had asked, as did our congressional delegation and many, many others, for them to go back and look at the science,” said Craig Butler, director of Ohio’s EPA.

The federal EPA in May outlined guidelines for two common toxins, including microcystin, that come from blue-green algae and can cause vomiting and diarrhea and have killed dogs and livestock. Long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.

Cities in Ohio this year will first alert residents when any amount of microcystin is detected in the drinking water.

But do-not drink warnings for children under 6-year-old, pregnant women and nursing mothers will only go out after the microcystin levels reach 0.3 micrograms per liter over several days. The advisory also will include people with pre-existing liver conditions and those on dialysis treatment.

Warnings for everyone else will be triggered when the toxins hit 1.6 micrograms per liter. Last year during the Toledo water crisis, the Ohio EPA used its own standard that was based on a 1 microgram per liter limit recommended by the World Health Organization in 1998.

In addition to not drinking, the warnings will advise people not to use the tainted water for brushing teeth, cooking and making baby formula.

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Last year during the Toledo water crisis, the Ohio EPA used its own standard that was based on a 1 microgram per liter limit recommended by the World Health Organization in 1998.

1998 ? What's the hold up, on new data, findings & letting people/ the public know.
Why? & how can Ohio used it's own standard, based on the the OLD WHO findings ?

Yea.. " Trust us & drink it, it's safe "

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/16/apnewsbreak-ohio-lays-out-new-plan-for-toxic-water/#ixzz3g55b7Ms8/

We've had a reverse osmosis filter for a number of years. the amount of waste water is problematic. Not to mention upkeep and replacement costs. We're currently running a manual two stage Brita system cuz the R/O needs replaced but a better quality one is pricey.

Running the water through two different Brita filters does improve the taste, but I don't know about the microcystin. I did read that activated charcoal does remove like 99% of the algae toxin. Brita is activated charcoal but who know if it's the effective enough.

I need to seriously work on a wastewater catch plan when I replace the currently defunct R/O system.

The reporter's name is John Seewer? Seriously?

Running the water through two different Brita filters does improve the taste, but I don't know about the microcystin. I did read that activated charcoal does remove like 99% of the algae toxin. Brita is activated charcoal but who know if it's the effective enough.

Love the charcoal systems, differently tastes better. I think everyone should be concerned about algae & also fluoride.

Bottled water....enough said. Don't drink Lake Erie water...it tastes like Mercury anyway.

I check the water quality every time I am in an area this can be an issue in Ohio. Nothing worst than swimming or drinking green pond scum lake water. Well maybe go on a date with some folks on this site....

It is crazy and maybe better described as the cannery in the coal mine so to speak about the issues of not having enough safe water for all the people.