During a special presentation to Flint City Council given Monday, September 14, 2015, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling asked Council to support a letter asking Governor Rick Snyder for $30 Million to improve Flint’s aging water infrastructure. Council agreed to support the letter in an 8 to 1 vote. $10 million of that funding would go directly toward replacing residential home service lines that contain lead pipes and solder. Older homes built before 1986 may have lead in their service lines which can leach into the water over time.
While DPW Director Howard Croft unveiled a water optimization plan which would add a corrosion control agent to the water, Mayor Walling said the long term problem of lead cannot be ignored and that old service lines containing lead need to be addressed now. “The safety of our residents is paramount, water is a basic human right,” said Mayor Walling. “No matter what source we use for our water, this problem does not go away until pipes containing lead are removed from our residents’ homes.”
While the City’s own testing has found that lead levels are below the State and Federal action levels, residents with concerns are encouraged to call the Flint Water Treatment Plant to ask for free and independent testing. Residents wishing to receive a free and independent in-home water test can call 810-787-6537 or email [email protected]. For more information on precautions to take for lead in the home, you can visit the EPA’s website for a comprehensive explanation. A printer friendly version of that information provided by the City of Flint is also available below.
