About 400,000 people in and around Ohio's fourth-largest city are being warned not to drink or use its water after tests revealed the presence of a toxin possibly related to algae on Lake Erie.
Toledo officials issued the warning early Saturday, setting off a frenzied hunt for bottled water and bags of ice all over northwest Ohio.
Many stores had been emptied of water within a few hours as people lined up and bought carts full of water.
Toledo issued the warning after tests at one treatment plant showed two sample readings for microsystin above the standard for consumption.
Residents are being told not to boil the water because it will only increase the toxin's concentration. Consuming the tainted water could result in vomiting, diarrhea and other problems.
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