Toxin leaves 500,000 in northwest Ohio without drinking water

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Jascha Chiaverini secures a 500-gallon tank of water from a Napolean, Ohio grain elevator onto a trailer to donate to one of the city's distribution centers, where Toledoans can fill their water jugs at no charge in ToledoBy George Tanber TOLEDO Ohio (Reuters) – Dangerously high levels of toxins from algae on Lake Erie left 500,000 people in Toledo, Ohio, without safe drinking water on Saturday and sent many driving to other states in search of bottled water. The crisis affects the state's fourth-largest city and surrounding counties, forcing most restaurants and the Toledo Zoo to close. Ohio Governor John Kasich declared a state of emergency for the region, freeing up resources for the Ohio National Guard and state workers to truck safe water to people who need it. City officials said in a statement that Lake Erie, the source of local drinking water, may have been impacted by a "harmful algal bloom." In response to the Toledo crisis, Chicago is doing additional testing on Lake Michigan water as a precaution, and expects results in a day or two, city spokeswoman Shannon Breymaier said.

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