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Michigan city to change water source after studies showed lead increase Michigan city to change water source after studies showed lead increase
(about 20 hours later)
After months of resisting complaints from residents in the city of Flint, Michigan, over the discolored and odorous water that was flowing into their homes, city and state officials announced a plan Thursday to change their water source.After months of resisting complaints from residents in the city of Flint, Michigan, over the discolored and odorous water that was flowing into their homes, city and state officials announced a plan Thursday to change their water source.
Michigan governor Rick Snyder said the revelation that a spate of children are experiencing elevated blood-lead levels had become a “public safety issue”, weeks after independent experts first asserted that Flint’s temporary water source had produced a spike in lead across the city of 100,000.Michigan governor Rick Snyder said the revelation that a spate of children are experiencing elevated blood-lead levels had become a “public safety issue”, weeks after independent experts first asserted that Flint’s temporary water source had produced a spike in lead across the city of 100,000.
The stunning admission comes on the heels of several local studies that showed the increase in lead occurred after Flint stopped using the Detroit system and began pulling water from the Flint river as a cost-saving measure. Snyder’s support for the reconnection with Detroit’s system falls in line with a recommendation from an advisory committee, which met on Wednesday.The stunning admission comes on the heels of several local studies that showed the increase in lead occurred after Flint stopped using the Detroit system and began pulling water from the Flint river as a cost-saving measure. Snyder’s support for the reconnection with Detroit’s system falls in line with a recommendation from an advisory committee, which met on Wednesday.
“It’ll be better for the citizens of Flint for public safety,” Snyder said at a press conference in downtown Flint.“It’ll be better for the citizens of Flint for public safety,” Snyder said at a press conference in downtown Flint.
Officials said Thursday they’ll put forth a widely supported proposal in the state legislature and city council to transfer water service back to Detroit.Officials said Thursday they’ll put forth a widely supported proposal in the state legislature and city council to transfer water service back to Detroit.
They estimated the transfer will cost $12m, about half of which Snyder plans to request from the state Legislature. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has committed a $4m grant for the effort, while Flint’s government will appropriate $2m. The transfer would remain in place until a new regional system Flint expects to join is ready, sometime next year. They estimated the transfer will cost $12m, about half of which Snyder plans to request from the state legislature. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has committed a $4m grant for the effort, while Flint’s government will appropriate $2m. The transfer would remain in place until a new regional system Flint expects to join is ready, sometime next year.
“There are important lessons from Flint’s experience,” said Michigan director of environmental quality Dan Wyant. “We need to take a look at federal and state policy reforms.”“There are important lessons from Flint’s experience,” said Michigan director of environmental quality Dan Wyant. “We need to take a look at federal and state policy reforms.”
Ever since the switch to Flint took place in April 2014, the number of children in the city with elevated blood levels increased from 2.1% to 4%, according to a recent study from a pediatrician with the Hurley Medical Center. In some areas, the number increased as high as 6.3%. Ever since the switch to Flint took place in April 2014, the number of children in the city with elevated blood levels increased from 2.1% to 4%, according to a recent study from a pediatrician with the Hurley medical center. In some areas, the number increased as high as 6.3%.
The study found no significant change over the same period in lead levels of children from surrounding Genesee County, which continued to purchase water from Detroit instead. The findings only compounded results from prior independent testing of water inside Flint resident’s homes, conducted by researchers from Virginia Tech, a group of citizen volunteers, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.The study found no significant change over the same period in lead levels of children from surrounding Genesee County, which continued to purchase water from Detroit instead. The findings only compounded results from prior independent testing of water inside Flint resident’s homes, conducted by researchers from Virginia Tech, a group of citizen volunteers, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
Virginia Tech researchers found water from the Flint River is far more corrosive than Detroit’s water supply, and it eats away at lead from service lines, before flowing into homes. Virginia Tech researchers found water from the Flint river is far more corrosive than Detroit’s water supply, and it eats away at lead from service lines, before flowing into homes.
That survey, called the Flint Water Study, found that 10% of the homes tested had 25 parts per billion of lead, far exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 15 parts per billion.That survey, called the Flint Water Study, found that 10% of the homes tested had 25 parts per billion of lead, far exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 15 parts per billion.
City and state officials hadn’t embraced the findings with open arms and insisted Flint’s water was safe to drink.City and state officials hadn’t embraced the findings with open arms and insisted Flint’s water was safe to drink.
The assurances went unheeded, as a slew of residents opted to cook, bathe and drink bottled water, rather than take the risk of whatever was coming from their faucets.The assurances went unheeded, as a slew of residents opted to cook, bathe and drink bottled water, rather than take the risk of whatever was coming from their faucets.
The overture from officials shifted dramatically on Thursday, with many conceding the issue was far worse than initially portrayed by Snyder’s administration.The overture from officials shifted dramatically on Thursday, with many conceding the issue was far worse than initially portrayed by Snyder’s administration.
Following the release of the Hurley study last month, the city promptly issued a lead advisory, telling residents to flush their pipes and install water filters. The city has also said it is now feverishly working to implement a corrosion control plan to reduce levels of lead.Following the release of the Hurley study last month, the city promptly issued a lead advisory, telling residents to flush their pipes and install water filters. The city has also said it is now feverishly working to implement a corrosion control plan to reduce levels of lead.
Flint mayor Dayne Walling – who, at the time of the initial switch, raised a glass of water from the Flint River during a small ceremony and announced, “Here’s to Flint” – said the health and safety of his constituents was a “top priority”. Flint mayor Dayne Walling – who at the time of the initial switch raised a glass of water from the Flint river during a small ceremony and announced, “Here’s to Flint” – said the health and safety of his constituents was a “top priority”.
“A switch back to Detroit is the fastest way to protect public health and to stabilize Flint’s water system,” he said.“A switch back to Detroit is the fastest way to protect public health and to stabilize Flint’s water system,” he said.
The city’s water woes come amid a troublesome moment in Flint’s history: Throttled by financial uncertainty, Flint was placed into state receivership in 2011, when Snyder appointed an emergency manager with vast powers to oversee the city’s day-to-day operations. Flint also ranks high on the list of violent US cities, a standing that’s exacerbated by a continually fleeting tax base. The city’s water woes come amid a troublesome moment in Flint’s history: throttled by financial uncertainty, Flint was placed into state receivership in 2011, when Snyder appointed an emergency manager with vast powers to oversee the city’s day-to-day operations. Flint also ranks high on the list of violent US cities, a standing that’s exacerbated by a continually fleeting tax base.
It’s against that backdrop that Flint’s water supply became a source of trouble, following a decision by the city’s emergency manager, in April 2014, to decline a short-term deal with Detroit to continue receiving water from the city, before joining a new regional authority in mid-2016 that was expected to bring in millions of dollars of savings. To cover the intervening period, officials moved to use the Flint river until the new system comes online next year.It’s against that backdrop that Flint’s water supply became a source of trouble, following a decision by the city’s emergency manager, in April 2014, to decline a short-term deal with Detroit to continue receiving water from the city, before joining a new regional authority in mid-2016 that was expected to bring in millions of dollars of savings. To cover the intervening period, officials moved to use the Flint river until the new system comes online next year.
As problems exacerbated, residents started to organize and rally for clean, affordable water; Flint residents pay an average of $140 monthly bill for water, an analysis by the Flint Journal found.As problems exacerbated, residents started to organize and rally for clean, affordable water; Flint residents pay an average of $140 monthly bill for water, an analysis by the Flint Journal found.
Allen Overton, a member of the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, praised the decision to reconnect with Detroit, but was disappointed by how long officials took to react.Allen Overton, a member of the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, praised the decision to reconnect with Detroit, but was disappointed by how long officials took to react.
“It’s very sad,” Overton told the Guardian. “I believe there needs to be a federal investigation.”“It’s very sad,” Overton told the Guardian. “I believe there needs to be a federal investigation.”
It’s unclear how soon a reconnection could take place. Walling said a press conference will be held Monday to update residents on the situation.It’s unclear how soon a reconnection could take place. Walling said a press conference will be held Monday to update residents on the situation.