CARROLLTON ‒ Getting a glass of water from the kitchen sink is risky and unpleasant for a handful of residents in the Stony Lake neighborhood of Carroll County.

Much of the water that comes from private wells is contaminated with coliform and E. coli. And public health and environmental officials suspect aging and malfunctioning septic systems are to blame.

"The assumption is it is leaking into the water table," Carroll County Commissioner Christopher Modranski said. "That is why some of their wells are failing. It is contaminated."

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The impacted neighborhood is in Carroll County's Perry Township, about six miles south of Carrollton.

"We are not sure if the septic waste is getting into the lake (Stony Lake)," said Carroll County Health Commissioner Kelly Engelhart. "I do know it is impacting the private water wells. There are 40 homes around that lake. We have 20 of those homes that have tested positive for either E. coli or coliform. The wells that are testing positive are shallow. I think 35 feet is the shallowest."

The Carroll County General Health District discovered the tainted water a year ago while conducting an inspection. County health officials have issued advisories telling Stony Lake area residents to avoid drinking water from private wells that have tested positive for elevated levels of coliform or E. coli.

"Whenever there is a house for sale, they have to inspect the wells and septic," Modranski said. "We are in the feasibility stage, trying to figure out the most economic way to remedy the situation,. My understanding is the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is coming down to help the Health Department do more thorough testing."

The state EPA's involvement likely will be limited.

"Ohio EPA is aware of the septic system issue in the Stony Lake area and we are in communication with the Carroll County Health Department," said Anthony Chenault, public relations officer for the state EPA. "As of right now, we are not out there doing anything. The local health department regulates home sewage systems and private drinking wells."

For now, the proposed solution is constructing a public sewage collection system for the area. If that happens, the sewage system would come under authority of the Carroll County Environmental Services. which operates a sewage collection and treatment system in the Malvern area.

"Currently, the county commissioners are developing a request for qualifications to hire an engineering firm to design the sewer system," Engelhart said in an email statement. "Once designed, there is grant funding through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to build the small package plant (sewage system). The commissioners have agreed to include this system in their management. Due to it creating a public health emergency, the residents will be required to tie into the system once complete."

Carroll County General Health District officials have not been able to test the water in Stony Lake because they were denied access to the privately owned body of water by the Stony Lake Association.

Residents who have foul water have made adjustments.

"Most of them are bringing in their own bottled water," Engelhart said. "You can wash your clothes in it (well water). You can bathe in it because the temperatures get hot enough to kill organisms."

Reach Malcolm at 330-596-0326 or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com