Bedford Official Celebrates Return Of Tap Water With Fresh Pot Of Coffee

LUNA PIER (AP) — A ban on drinking water supplied by an Ohio city was lifted Monday, bringing relief to thousands of people in Michigan's Monroe County who are tapped into the Toledo system.

Bedford Township Supervisor Greg Stewart said he immediately brewed a fresh pot of coffee from tap water.

"I'm proud of every single citizen of this township," said Stewart, the highest elected official in a community of 32,000 residents. "It stepped up to the plate and came through without an incident."

Toledo and communities that get water from the city just across the Michigan border couldn't use it over the weekend because a toxin in the water was at unsafe levels. Officials believe it's probably linked to algae in Lake Erie.

In Michigan, Luna Pier, Bedford and Erie townships and a portion of LaSalle Township get water from Toledo.

"I'm not a big believer in panicking and second-guessing," Stewart said. "We're going to sit down and work with our partners and figure out a solution."

Luna Pier Mayor David Davison said he's not interested in "pointing fingers."

"I'm sure they're going to have to do some upgrading of the Toledo plant down there. It's going to be very, very costly," he predicted.