Franklin County Church Cited for Excessive Manganese in Drinking Water

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has cited a Franklin County church for failing to maintain safe manganese levels in its drinking water, surpassing both state and federal health thresholds and prompting concerns over long-term exposure risks.

The Grace Fellowship Center public water system, classified as a non-transient non-community system, violated Ohio water quality regulations in May 2025 when manganese levels exceeded both the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.05 mg/L and the U.S. EPA’s Lifetime Health Advisory Level (HAL) of 0.3 mg/L for three consecutive weeks.

According to an Ohio EPA violation letter dated June 25, the system failed to properly operate its potassium permanganate treatment feed, as outlined in state-approved engineering plans. The exceedances are considered a “significant deficiency,” indicating systemic problems in treatment or maintenance that may pose a direct risk to public health—particularly to children, who are more vulnerable to manganese-induced neurological impacts.

While manganese is an essential nutrient in small amounts, excessive oral exposure can cause neurological and behavioral effects. Federal agencies have linked elevated concentrations in drinking water to learning and behavioral problems in children and reproductive concerns in adults. The U.S. EPA advises against consuming water when manganese levels reach or exceed 1 mg/L.

Ohio EPA instructed the system operator to install proper treatment and maintain compliance monitoring. Officials noted that filters 3 and 4 were in disrepair, and while replacement parts have been located and quoted, no timeline for completion has been provided. In the interim, operators have decreased permanganate levels and begun extra backwashing to manage water quality.

If manganese concentrations reach 0.35 mg/L or higher during future monitoring, the agency recommends issuing a "Precautionary Use" public notice within 24 hours to alert consumers.

Grace Fellowship Center has 30 days from the date of the violation letter to submit a written corrective action plan. Failure to comply may result in civil or administrative penalties under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6109.