Flint reconnects to Detroit water to resolve health concerns

After a failed experiment with Flint River water, city officials announced late this afternoon that Flint is returning to Detroit’s system for its drinking water.

“Reconnecting to the Great Lakes Water Authority is only the first step, as the state will continue testing and inspections to ensure Flint families and children have clean water in their homes and schools”, Snyder said in a statement.

House Bill 4102 authorizes $6 million to move the city back to Detroit’s water system until their own new pipeline is finished in 2016. “I am not going to stop until every drop of drinking water in Flint is 100 percent safe”.

As part of a nine-month agreement, the DWSD says their water will begin flowing to Flint residents today.

The city stopped getting water from Detroit a year ago to cut costs and used river water. The Task Force will be led by the Region 5 Deputy Regional Administrator and will assist with developing and implementing a plan to secure water quality, including measures to optimize corrosion control. Increased bacteria levels forced boil-water advisories.

Water provided by DWSD will contain corrosion control agents to hinder the leaching of lead from old pipes into the water; however, the City will also be adding additional corrosion control agents to further minimize the risk presented by lead pipes.

Word of the task force comes after Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday approved $9.3 million in aid to address Flint’s water crisis. Flint will pay $2 million, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has pledged $4 million.

Federal environmental officials said earlier Friday they established a task force that will include federal scientists and technicians, and the Environmental Protection Agency would ask Snyder and Walling to designate officials to serve as contacts. Task Force members will be available to consult with MDEQ and the City of Flint on site in Flint.