MI environmental agency presents Flint water-testing plan

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission also plans to hold hearings to explore whether the civil rights of Flint residents were violated. “More so than anything”, said Thompson. Chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water systems and prevent the growth of viruses and bacteria such as E. coli.

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The first step is constant testing of the water in residential homes. Cost-cutting, poor management, lax oversight and officials turning a deaf ear to residents’ complaints led to the massive public-sector failure, said John Polley of the Martin County water utility.

If ever there was a case of government failing its citizens, it’s the current water crisis surrounding the town of Flint, Michigan.

Water filters that officials handed out to residents and businesses in Flint are capable of treating water with 150 parts per billion of lead. The goal is to ensure lead is out of the water through detailed testing in homes, schools, food service, and blood testing. Early was also the governor-appointed emergency manager in charge of Flint when the city tapped into its corrosive river for water.

“We just want to say thank you very much for your generosity and helping us out”.

Snoop Dogg stopped in Flint before a Saturday night performance in Detroit.

When Flint, Mich., switched its municipal water supply, Mayor Dayne Walling said, “It’s a historic moment for the city of Flint to return to its roots and use our own river as our drinking water supply”.

Health officials continue to test and treat the water, but say it could be months before it’s safe for residents to drink.

“Because the city’s water has historically had acceptably low levels of lead and copper, (the) Ohio EPA only requires testing once every three years”.

“A coalition of some of America’s biggest companies is organizing a trucklift for Flint, promising to deliver 6.5 million bottles of water to the city in order to provide clean drinking water for schoolchildren through 2016”.

Lead originally entered Flint’s water supply after the city stopped getting water from Detroit and instead took it from the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure in 2014.

“We have a crisis happening”, Snyder said. Last week, President Obama announced another $80 million in federal funding, earmarked to help MI improve its water infrastructure, but that still only represents about 10 percent of what Flint alone needs; taking into account the needs of all of MI, that target only gets further away.

Within a week, the Snyder administration reversed course and confirmed findings that Flint’s water was creating a health threat in old homes with lead pipes or pipes fused with lead solder and corroborated elevated levels of lead in blood in two local ZIP codes.

Dave Murray, a spokesman for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, said the office “will cooperate fully with any authorities looking at what happened in Flint with the water”. “We need to really make sure we make a commitment to strengthen the community, to make it a stronger, better place”.