Five called to testify in House committee hearing on Flint water crisis

A day after NBC News reported that none of the corroded lead pipes at the core of the Flint water crisis have been removed, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder admitted he has no immediate plans to replace them.

The water came at a time when Flint announced it had flunked some drinking water standards apart from the lead contamination that has spoiled tap water and caused a crisis.

MI lawmakers directed another $28 million Thursday to address Flint’s lead-contaminated water supply, allocating money for bottled water, medical assessments and other costs for the financially strained city.

Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Brenda Lawrence of MI have complained that the committee’s Republican chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, rejected their request for Snyder to testify at an Oversight hearing next week. “The coolers will arrive today and will be provided as long as the public water does not meet treatment requirements”, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget said in an advisory dated January 7, 2015.

The Board of State Canvassers on Thursday rejected petitions to recall Snyder over his handling of Flint’s lead-contaminated water. The measure now awaits Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature.

According to the city, they have identified more than 250 addresses that fall into this category.

The Lehigh Valley’s water contains high levels of minerals, which can lead to buildup in pipes that helps prevent lead from leaching into the water, Gross said. In 2014, to save money, the city began using the polluted Flint River as its water source.

Advocates are calling this a clear case of environmental racism because the city of Flint is mostly African American and about 40 percent of its citizens live below the poverty line.

Del Toral will testify Tuesday about his reports to superiors and his work on Flint’s water. “It’s time to stand up and recognize that things could have been done differently”, Snyder said.

Flint residents are being warned that water samples from more than two dozen city locations have higher lead levels than filters can handle and that further tests are recommended. The Bowling for Columbine director penned a blistering statement outlining the futility of bottled water as a solution, and instead offered a number of concrete solutions to stem the damage and bring comfort to the afflicted. There are also funds to hire outside experts to figure out whether Flint’s water infrastructure needs to be completely replaced. In addition, the water is treated to prevent it from becoming corrosive to the pipes it passes through.

Earley, emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools, was Flint’s emergency manager when the city switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River.

“Obviously, if you’ve already gotten a test back and it’s under 150 and you’ve been told your water is safe, continue to use the filters, OK”, Lurie said “But, to be clear: If you don’t know, let’s act out of an abundance of caution”.