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| Flint water crisis improving but still unsafe to drink, researchers say | Flint water crisis improving but still unsafe to drink, researchers say |
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| The Flint, Mich., water system is in much better shape six months after the city switched its water source and began adding chemicals to control corrosion of aging pipes, but the threat of lead contamination remains, researchers said Tuesday. | The Flint, Mich., water system is in much better shape six months after the city switched its water source and began adding chemicals to control corrosion of aging pipes, but the threat of lead contamination remains, researchers said Tuesday. |
| “There are very positive trends. ... The system is definitely on its path to recovery,” Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech professor whose work helped bring Flint’s water crisis to light, told reporters. But he said that because recent samples showed that potentially dangerous levels of lead persist, “at present, no one should be drinking unfiltered water in Flint.” | “There are very positive trends. ... The system is definitely on its path to recovery,” Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech professor whose work helped bring Flint’s water crisis to light, told reporters. But he said that because recent samples showed that potentially dangerous levels of lead persist, “at present, no one should be drinking unfiltered water in Flint.” |
| On the whole, Edwards said, a lower percentage of homes tested showed high lead levels, and even in those where levels still exceed federal standards, the amount of lead appears to be declining. The corrosion control efforts also appear to be reducing levels of iron in the water. | On the whole, Edwards said, a lower percentage of homes tested showed high lead levels, and even in those where levels still exceed federal standards, the amount of lead appears to be declining. The corrosion control efforts also appear to be reducing levels of iron in the water. |
| But the researchers said too many of the homes tested last month still showed lead levels above the federal “action level” of 15 parts per billion. In addition, they said, lead levels throughout Flint’s water system are “highly variable.” | |
| “Thus, virtually all homes in Flint must be considered at risk, at the present time, for elevated lead in water,” researchers wrote in a summary of their findings, “unless the homeowner is certain that there is no lead plumbing in the home.” | “Thus, virtually all homes in Flint must be considered at risk, at the present time, for elevated lead in water,” researchers wrote in a summary of their findings, “unless the homeowner is certain that there is no lead plumbing in the home.” |
| At the same time, the fact that many Flint residents are using very little water is hindering the recovery of the city’s system, Edwards said. | At the same time, the fact that many Flint residents are using very little water is hindering the recovery of the city’s system, Edwards said. |
| “If we want to help this system recover, we have to get water moving through these pipes,” he said. “This is essential.” | “If we want to help this system recover, we have to get water moving through these pipes,” he said. “This is essential.” |
| Understandably, Edwards said, many residents are avoiding their tap water and relying primarily on bottled water, both to lower their utility bills and to avoid possible contact with lead and other contaminants. But that also means that chlorine and other chemicals that the city has added to reduce leaching of lead into pipes and combat bacteria are not flowing through homes as much as officials would like. | Understandably, Edwards said, many residents are avoiding their tap water and relying primarily on bottled water, both to lower their utility bills and to avoid possible contact with lead and other contaminants. But that also means that chlorine and other chemicals that the city has added to reduce leaching of lead into pipes and combat bacteria are not flowing through homes as much as officials would like. |
| The latest round of water samples in Flint were collected by Virginia Tech students alongside local residents, with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency. Their goal: To examine how lead levels in the city’s water had changed since Flint began adding recommended chemicals to control the corrosion of pipes and reconnected to Detroit’s water source, Lake Huron. | |
| Last summer, Edwards’ team from Virginia Tech collected water samples from 269 residents around Flint, and their findings showed troubling levels of lead. The most recent results involved re-sampling of 174 of those homes. | Last summer, Edwards’ team from Virginia Tech collected water samples from 269 residents around Flint, and their findings showed troubling levels of lead. The most recent results involved re-sampling of 174 of those homes. |
| Flint’s lead problems began to surface after the city temporarily switched to the Flint River for its water supply in April 2014, as part of a bid to save money. The state failed to ensure that anti-corrosive chemicals were added to the water, which leached lead from aging underground pipes. | Flint’s lead problems began to surface after the city temporarily switched to the Flint River for its water supply in April 2014, as part of a bid to save money. The state failed to ensure that anti-corrosive chemicals were added to the water, which leached lead from aging underground pipes. |
| As a result, nearly 9,000 children younger than 6 have potentially been exposed to the toxin. Lead can cause permanent learning disabilities, behavior problems and, at higher levels, a number of diseases. Public health officials say there is no safe level of lead in the body. | As a result, nearly 9,000 children younger than 6 have potentially been exposed to the toxin. Lead can cause permanent learning disabilities, behavior problems and, at higher levels, a number of diseases. Public health officials say there is no safe level of lead in the body. |
| Under current lead-in-water regulations, at least 90 percent of homes tested by a water system must remain below the federal “action level” of 15 parts per billion. The 90 percentile of samples taken last month in Flint was 23 parts per billion, Edwards said. | Under current lead-in-water regulations, at least 90 percent of homes tested by a water system must remain below the federal “action level” of 15 parts per billion. The 90 percentile of samples taken last month in Flint was 23 parts per billion, Edwards said. |
| Tuesday’s findings come days after state and federal officials, along with the researchers from Virginia Tech, agreed that the water quality in Flint is improving -- but that more work must be done before the water can be declared safe to drink for all residents. | Tuesday’s findings come days after state and federal officials, along with the researchers from Virginia Tech, agreed that the water quality in Flint is improving -- but that more work must be done before the water can be declared safe to drink for all residents. |
| “It will take months and months to recover, and no one is willing to put a time limit,” Robert Kaplan, acting regional EPA administrator, said at a Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee meeting last Friday, according to local news reports. | “It will take months and months to recover, and no one is willing to put a time limit,” Robert Kaplan, acting regional EPA administrator, said at a Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee meeting last Friday, according to local news reports. |
| That same day, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R), whose administration has been heavily criticized for not acting on the problems in Flint sooner, sounded cautiously optimistic. | That same day, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R), whose administration has been heavily criticized for not acting on the problems in Flint sooner, sounded cautiously optimistic. |
| “Whenever we see a positive trend in Flint’s water quality, that’s good news,” Snyder said in a statement. “But we still have much work to do to get people the quality of water they need and deserve.” | “Whenever we see a positive trend in Flint’s water quality, that’s good news,” Snyder said in a statement. “But we still have much work to do to get people the quality of water they need and deserve.” |
| In the meantime, residents have been encouraged to flush their kitchen water faucets to remove any particles of lead that might be lingering in their home’s plumbing, and also to help push anti-corrosion chemicals through the plumbing system. | In the meantime, residents have been encouraged to flush their kitchen water faucets to remove any particles of lead that might be lingering in their home’s plumbing, and also to help push anti-corrosion chemicals through the plumbing system. |
| Officials also have advised residents to clean the aerators on their kitchen and bathroom faucets at least once a week, and to continue using filtered water for cooking and drinking. | Officials also have advised residents to clean the aerators on their kitchen and bathroom faucets at least once a week, and to continue using filtered water for cooking and drinking. |