Chrissie Thompson

cthompson@usatoday.com

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- John Kasich says he didn’t mention elevated lead levels in a Northeast Ohio village during Thursday’s debate because the situation isn’t like that in Flint, Michigan.

During Thursday's GOP presidential debate, Fox News moderator Bret Baier asked Kasich how he would have handled the lead crisis in Flint, Michigan. In that state, Gov. Rick Snyder has come under heavy fire for downplaying reports of lead in the water after Flint switched its water supply in 2014. Snyder didn’t acknowledge problems with the water until October of last year.

Kasich mentioned crises he has handled as Ohio governor, including a two-day period in 2014 during which Toledo residents couldn’t drink their water because of a toxin produced by excessive algae growth. But he didn’t mention his administration’s order last week that the village of Sebring warn its 4,300 residents about elevated lead levels found months ago in three homes and in two school drinking fountains.

On Friday, Kasich's political opponents, especially the staff of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, were already attacking him about the Sebring situation.

The Sebring problem stems from improper chemistry at the village water plant, causing water to corrode old pipes and allowing lead to leach into them. Most homes and school water sources tested by the EPA have had safe water levels.

“The water going into Sebring is clean. What we experienced in Toledo was more like (Flint), a bad water source coming in. But we've been all over it, and we've handled it appropriately,’ ” Kasich told reporters Friday after his final Iowa campaign event before that state's caucus. “You're gonna have things like this happen. They're happening all over the country now because of the old infrastructure. We deal with it, and we deal with it effectively.”

Flint’s water problems are vastly more severe in nature and in scope: Officials have warned all of the city’s approximately 100,000 residents to stop drinking the water. Its problems stem from switching to corrosive water from the Flint River without taking proper precautions to address the water’s reaction with lead pipes and water lines.

Kasich is right: Flint has a bad water source. But the source of Sebring’s problem – improper chemistry at the water-treatment plant – is related to one of the factors causing the Flint crisis.

Village and Ohio officials knew about the Sebring problem before telling residents, but they don’t face accusations of years’ worth of neglect and indifference that are plaguing the Snyder administration in Michigan.

Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency says its field office ran into trouble with village officials, who for months ignored admonitions to tell residents about the water tests. The operator of the water system, the EPA alleges, falsified water test records – a charge the operator has denied. The EPA is taking steps to remove his license.

EPA Director Craig Butler says the field office was “too patient” in not forcing the village to take action and in not reporting the issue to their superiors. The department is conducting an internal review and has placed two employees on leave, the Columbus Dispatch reported Friday.

In total, steps taken by the Ohio EPA -- including extra lead testing and providing water and filters -- "go beyond what is required," a federal EPA administrator said in a letter to Butler dated Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, who is often mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate, on Thursday called for Butler to resign. And Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni, D-Boardman, said he'd sponsor legislation to require local water systems and the Ohio EPA to tell residents sooner if they detect elevated toxin levels in water.

Lead causes permanent brain damage in children, along with other health problems.

Worried about lead in your water? Here's what to do

Detroit Free Press reporter Paul Eagan contributed.