State records show the correctional facility’s water system failed to conduct required iron and manganese monitoring during two separate weeks this summer
PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — A state-run correctional facility in Pickaway County failed to complete required drinking-water monitoring during two separate weeks this summer, prompting the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to issue a formal Notice of Violation.
Ohio EPA cited the ODRC-Pickaway County Correction public water system on Sept. 4 for failing to properly monitor and report iron and manganese levels as required under Ohio drinking-water regulations.
The violation does not mean regulators found unsafe levels of either substance. Instead, the problem is that required samples were not collected and submitted, leaving gaps in the monitoring records regulators rely on to oversee the facility’s water treatment system.
According to Ohio EPA, the system serves more than 250 people and provides treatment for both iron and manganese.
Under state regulations, systems of that size that treat for those substances must conduct regular testing at the point where treated water enters the distribution system.
Operators can either test five days a week using an in-house kit, with one split sample each month analyzed by a state-certified laboratory, or conduct weekly testing through a certified laboratory.
Records reviewed by Ohio EPA showed that did not happen consistently.
According to the facility’s July 2026 monthly operating report, no iron samples were submitted for the week of June 28 through July 4. Another required round of iron sampling was missed during the week of July 23 through July 29.
The same gaps occurred with manganese testing.
No manganese samples were submitted for either of those weeks, according to the violation notice.
That failure placed the correctional facility’s public water system in violation of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6109 and related state drinking-water regulations.
Ohio EPA said its staff contacted the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction before issuing the notice and explained what the facility would need to do to return to compliance.
According to the agency, ODRC indicated that corrective actions would be implemented and that weekly iron and manganese sampling would be conducted moving forward.
Ohio EPA ordered the water system to resume required testing and submit the results as part of its monthly operating reports.
“The PWS must take immediate action to ensure optimal treatment is maintained,” regulators wrote.
The agency also warned that continued failure to comply with Ohio drinking-water laws could result in civil or administrative penalties.
Ohio EPA specifically noted that providing the requested information or taking corrective action does not prevent the state from later seeking penalties over the violations.
