T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA St. Clairsville service director Scott Harvey informs city council that the federal Environmental Protection Agency concluded its monthly tests of the city’s water for "forever chemicals.”

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — St. Clairsville Service Director Scott Harvey informed City Council that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has again tested the city’s water for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with results showing levels are nearly undetectable.

“They call it undetectable because it’s very low levels of PFAS in our reservoirs and our water system, everything is going fine so far,” Harvey said.

He said the EPA continues monthly testing and will also provide the city with multiple planning options for the future.

According to the EPA website, studies in laboratory animals indicate some PFAS can cause reproductive, developmental, liver, kidney and immunological toxicity. Exposure has also been linked to tumors in laboratory animals. In humans, studies have shown increased cholesterol levels among exposed populations, along with more limited findings related to infant birth weights, immune system effects, cancer and thyroid hormone disruption. Some PFAS can also affect the respiratory system following acute inhalation exposure.

Harvey also said the EPA is moving toward a requirement that by the end of 2027 all galvanized lead lines be replaced.

“We don’t have any lead lines in the city, but we do have some galvanized lines,” Harvey said. “So we’re going to be forced to break the news to the residents and tell them to replace their service line or we have to disconnect you from our water.”

He said the EPA is mandating the change and is asking local governments to communicate the requirement.

He added that some companies offer water line service insurance for homeowners at about $7 per month.

“We’re looking to get some information out to residents as this starts to come up closer on us, but certainly we don’t want to hit somebody with only six months before and say, ‘Hey, you got to change your water line, and it’s gonna cost you $2,000,'” Harvey said.

Harvey also announced the city will install multiple America 250 “road tattoos” to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.

On Monday evening, Harvey told council that the Ohio National Road Historical Society has sponsored two of four road tattoos planned for the city.

Two will be installed in both eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. Route 40 at Trinity St. Clairsville Neighborhood Hospital.

“We’re committed to paying for one. We pay 25% of the cost, which is $850, and then the National Road Society pays the other 75%,” Harvey said.

The city’s main street will also feature two additional road tattoos in front of the courthouse. Harvey said the Belmont County Board of Commissioners will cover the cost of those installations.

He explained that road tattoos are asphalt decals burned into the pavement.

“They heat it and it melts it into the pavement like you see on I-70,” Harvey said.

He added the markings are designed to last longer and better withstand harsh weather conditions.

Harvey also announced that the Newton Falls Nature Trail at Memorial Park is currently closed due to several large trees falling across the path.

“There’s a sign at the top of the trail saying that it’s temporarily closed until we can get down into that,” Harvey said. “There’s a challenge there to get equipment down there to get the trees out, so we’re kind of evaluating things and trying to see how we can get the equipment down there. It’s pretty bad — there’s some big trees down so that trail is temporarily closed.”