OKEECHOBEE – Okeechobee Utility Authority’s routine water testing found lead in the water in nine homes in Okeechobee.

OUA Executive Director Greg Kennedy said OUA conducted routine sampling at 70 homes. Samples were taken June 29 - July 13. Nine of the samples contained lead above the maximum contaminant level allowed in drinking water under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules.

The EPA standard for safe drinking water is no more than 15 parts per billion (ppb). Kennedy said lead levels in the nine affected homes ranged from 16 to 38 ppb.

Kennedy said the affected homeowners were notified by written notice hand-delivered to their homes as soon as the results came back, and the Okeechobee County Office of Emergency Management was also notified. OUA customers were notified by phone.

He said OUA will conduct additional testing of the water in the lines outside the homes and the water inside the homes.

He said they believe the source of the lead is most likely the plumbing inside the homes.

In 1989, Florida banned lead in plumbing components, Kennedy said. The plumbing in homes built before 1989 could contain lead. Some of that lead could be absorbed into water that stays in the lines. The simplest solution is to let the water run for a few minutes to flush it out, he added.

He said historically OUA tested water in a random sampling of homes every three years. They now conduct annual tests.

OUA uses water from Lake Okeechobee. The water is regularly tested at the OUA facility.

OUA currently has about 10,500 water customers.

On Wednesday morning Okeechobee County School District posted a notice on social media: “Okeechobee County Schools is aware of the recent notification from the Okeechobee Utility Authority regarding potentially elevated lead levels in drinking water. Following consultation with OUA, the District understands that the concern primarily affects structures built before 2014.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the District has directed affected sites to discontinue the use of drinking water and has provided bottled water. Testing for lead will be conducted today. If elevated lead levels are detected at any District site, the parents and employees affected will be notified directly.”

This story will be updated as more information is available.