The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Testing lab has provided results to the City of Flint showing that test results for TTHM levels for the month of February are well within EPA guidelines for safe water. All eight testing sites showed levels of TTHM ranging between 14.9 and 28.5 micrograms per liter (µg/L), well below the Maximum Contamination Level of 80 (see chart below).
The testing results confirm the progress made by the City to address concerns regarding the safety of its water supply and corroborates findings by the City and independent tests by other organizations that the water today is safe. “Flint’s water supply is meeting all safety guidelines set forth by the EPA,” said DPW Director Howard Croft. “Today’s findings by the MDEQ reinforce the progress we have made, and should help rebuild confidence in the safety of Flint’s drinking water. We still have work to do to improve water quality and are committed to being vigilant to assure that water safety is maintained.”
These results also show that the four month average for test results is now within EPA guidelines for five of the eight testing areas in the City. However, because EPA regulations require that the four month average for all testing sites be within guidelines, the City of Flint will still be considered to be out of compliance by MDEQ. The City expects to receive notice within the next few weeks indicating non-compliance, and system users can expect to receive official notice of non-compliance in the month of March.
Meanwhile, the City continues to work on maintaining water safety and improving water quality. While steps are being taken daily to improve quality, the City is expecting a formal set of recommendations from its water quality experts within the next few weeks.
The detail of the study results, a report of the progress being made and preliminary recommendations from Veolia will be shared with the newly formed Water Advisory Committee and Water Technical Committee, whose first meetings are scheduled for next week.
Areas in blue (under February) indicate current levels:
