Lead pipe timeline splits governor, Flint mayor

The study reveals that Flint households weren’t just forced to drink less-safe water than Detroiters – they also paid three and a half times more for the privilege.

He is investigating the tainted water, and was in town to talk to residents about how the crisis has affected them. In comparison, Phoenix, AZ reported the lowest average bill at $84.24 – less than a tenth of the highest U.S. water rates in Flint – over a population of 1.5 million. The city did not respond to the Free Press’s request for comment.

“It far exceeds what the United Nations designates as affordable for water and sewer service”. The survey was conducted in January 2015 and as the published results note, in August of 2015, the courts ordered the city of Flint to reduce water rates by 35 percent and end a specific service fee. The 2013 decision to leave the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for Karegnondi prompted the temporary switch to the Flint River as a water source in 2014.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said the city is planning to remove and replace the first lead pipe next week, according to a release by the mayor’s office.

Michigan State University has been helping with the crisis as well. It would be another year before the people of Flint were finally allowed to disconnect from the corrosive Flint River as their water supply and hook up again to the Detroit water system. But the City of Flint marks up the price Detroit charges before billing residents and business owners.

Tap water in Flint is outrageously expensive, in addition to being outrageously poisoned.