Ending Flint’s water crisis is going to cost the city $55 million

On Tuesday, state officials said they were taking Flint’s water crisis seriously.

As more water advisories were given telling residents to boil their tap water, different reasons were cited.

“The state knew that the water they was giving us was contaminated”, said Russell.

Damage is showing up in the city’s fire equipment.

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama proposed increasing federal spending next year for a state drinking water infrastructure fund by $157 million, an 18 percent increase over last year, to assist with projects in communities affected by water contamination such as Flint. A spokesman for Snyder, who has apologized for his administration’s role in the disaster and an inadequate initial response, said $25 million of the funding designated for Flint would help replace an unspecified number of old lead lines running from city streets to houses.

Lead affects the central nervous system, especially in children aged 6 and younger and can cause learning problems and hyperactivity.

Out of 21 Santa Rosa Junior College students interviewed, only three said they still trust California officials.

Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday is expected to request an additional $195 million to bring back safe drinking water to Flint and treat its impacted residents after highly corrosive water drawn from the Flint River leached lead throughout the city’s drinking water system, according to a person familiar with the budget.

If SRJC students, among the rest of Sonoma County residents, wish to avoid incidents such as the Flint water crisis, it is imperative to stay informed and get involved with local government policies and agencies like the Russian River Watershed Association, which we need to hold accountable for the treatment of the watershed several cities rely on. “We deserve new pipes because we did not deserve what happened”.

Snyder, a tech venture capitalist elected in 2010 on promises to turn around the state’s floundering economy, has accepted some blame for the crisis.

Democrats say Snyder’s plan is short of what is needed to fully reimburse the water portion of people’s water/sewer bills, and city officials want more to replace old pipes. “We pay the highest rates in the nation for the lowest quality of water”, the resident says.

“Whether or not we can expedite funding to Flint is dependent on when a project plan is received from Flint”, she said.

Flint’s water supply was contaminated by lead, after the source of the city’s drinking water was switched from Lake Huron to the Flint river in April 2014.

One lawsuit seeks to replace lead-leaching water lines at no cost to customers.

Also Tuesday, the special counsel appointed by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the investigation into the water crisis could result in criminal charges as serious as involuntary manslaughter. Weaver also said the “Fast Start” plan requires coordination between city, state and federal officials.