EPA establishes task force to help Flint switch water source

Complete replacement will happen in about three weeks. That came, in turn, in the wake of reports that water being pulled from the Flint River was making residents sick.

The city stopped getting its water from Detroit’s system a year ago in a cost-cutting move, but has had trouble with water from the Flint River.

Governor Rick Snyder on Thursday signed legislation that will direct funding to the City of Flint’s emergency water services to temporarily reconnect the city’s water supply to the Great Lakes Water Authority. Water from the Flint River was supposed to act as an interim supply source until the city could join a new system using water from Lake Huron, which is scheduled to be completed next year. “We stood up to Lansing and we fought back to get us on Detroit water”, said Flint Mayor Dayne Walling.

Bilal Tawwab, the Flint Community Schools Superintendent, praised what he called a swift action by the government to address the water quality, but added, “We clearly need a long-term solution to ensure our children have access to clean, safe drinking water”. Lead, a metal that can cause developmental delays and learning disabilities, is just the latest issue.

Officials say Detroit water contains corrosion control agents to hinder the release of lead from old pipes.

Flint has reversed it’s decision to use river water for its system in its city and reconnected to Detroit’s system after it was found that the river water left children with increased levels of lead.

Of the cost to rejoin the network, Flint will pay $2 million, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has pledged $4 million.

Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman established the Flint Safe Drinking Water Task Force to provide the Agency’s technical expertise through regular conversations with designated officials from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the City of Flint.