Pipes Replaced at 5,385 Flint Homes To Date through Mayor’s FAST Start Initiative

FLINT, Mich. — Lead-tainted service lines at 4,486 homes have been replaced so far in Phase 4 of Mayor Karen Weaver’s FAST Start initiative. The effort is part of the mayor’s plan to replace lead-tainted pipes at 6,000 Flint homes in 2017.

Crews from four area companies are replacing lead and galvanized service lines leading from the street to the water meter in residents’ homes during this fourth phase of FAST Start, extending the mayor’s efforts to restore safe, clean drinking water to Flint residents. Overall, service lines to 5,385 homes have been replaced since FAST Start launched in March 2016.

In addition, crews have identified copper service lines at a total of 1,074 homes which did not need to be replaced. Workers have begun checking the composition of some service lines using hydro-excavation. The process allows pipe replacement crews to avoid digging up copper service lines and concentrate just on homes with lead and galvanized pipes. So far, lines at 4,546 homes have been checked.

To be eligible for service line replacements, residents must have an active water account. They also must have signed a consent card giving permission for the work to be done (consent cards are being delivered to residents). In rental homes, both the owner and the tenant must sign consent cards. Residents are urged to sign the consent cards as soon as possible, so crews working in their neighborhood can replace their service line.

FAST Start crews will continue work in the following areas this week:

• Goyette Mechanical Co.: Brookwood Drive, Brownell Boulevard, Franklin Avenue, Kensington Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Linwood Avenue, Ridgelawn Avenue, St. Clair Street, Vermilya Avenue, Woodlawn Park Drive, and Woodside Drive
• W.T. Stevens Construction: Avon Street, Crapo Street, E. Paterson Street, Third Street, Thomson Street, Second Street, E. Witherbee Street, and Young Street
• Lang Construction: Josephine Street, Odette Street, W. Paterson Street, and W. Witherbee Street
• Waldorf and Sons: Minnesota Avenue and Nelson Street

The goal is to have all of Flint’s lead-tainted service lines — nearly 20,000 — replaced by 2020, with 6,000 pipes replaced annually over the next three years.

More information about the FAST Start initiative can be found on the City of Flint website www.cityofflint.com as well as the City of Flint FAST Start Facebook page. Questions about FAST Start may be directed to the FAST Start office by emailing [email protected] or by calling (810) 410-1133.