SEBRING, Ohio (AP): The state Environmental Protection Agency says all but four of the most recent tap water samples from a northeast Ohio village are below the federal standard for lead.

The agency says 50 of 54 samples for Sebring homeowners tested below the threshold in the latest round.

Officials say 951 samples have been tested in recent weeks. A total of 44 homes have shown lead levels above the federal standard since mid-January.

Sebring has come under scrutiny after state environmental officials said the operator of the village water plant waited months to notify people about high levels of lead coming from their pipes.

Two EPA employees were fired and one demoted over how the situation was handled.

It says running the tap for a few minutes eliminates any detectable lead.