October, 3, 2016 (Flint, Mich) — Lead-tainted service lines have been replaced at 163 Flint homes over the last month as part of Mayor Karen Weaver’s FAST Start initiative. Crews installed new copper pipes at 19 homes last week. Rainy weather kept workers from getting more pipes replaced, but they are on track to complete the job at a minimum of 200 homes overall by the end of this week, finishing the second phase of the FAST Start program.
Crews from three area companies are replacing lead and galvanized steel service lines leading from the street to the water meter in residents’ homes during this second phase of the FAST Start initiative, extending the mayor’s efforts to restore safe, clean drinking water to Flint residents.
“Poor weather conditions kept us from completing pipe replacements to as many homes as we would have liked, but we’re on track to finish this phase of the FAST Start program with at least 200 homes overall receiving new service lines by the end of the week,” said retired Brigadier General Michael McDaniel, manager of the FAST Start project. “We’re eager to start the next phase of Mayor Weaver’s FAST Start pipe replacement initiative which will result in the replacement of service lines to about 1,000 homes this fall.”
Work crews plan to continue to replace service pipes this week at homes on Brownell Boulevard between Dayton Street and Dartmouth Street; Arizona Avenue between Lewis Road and Franklin Avenue; Colorado Avenue between Lewis Road and Franklin Avenue; Wyoming Avenue between Lewis Road and Franklin Avenue; Utah Avenue between Lewis Road and Franklin Avenue; Dartmouth Street between Brownell Boulevard and Trumbull Avenue; and Jackson Street between Brownell Boulevard and Trumbull Avenue.
Mayor Weaver launched the FAST Start initiative to help resolve a number of problems created after a state-appointed emergency manager switched the City’s water source to the Flint River in 2014 without the necessary corrosion control chemicals being added. The corrosive water removed a protective coating on the inside of the pipes, causing lead to leach into the water flowing to homes and businesses in the City of Flint.
During the first phase of FAST Start earlier this year, water service pipes to 33 homes were replaced.
