Michigan to end free bottled water in Flint
Governor says state’s water now meets federal standards
LANSING, Mich. — Four remaining free bottled water stations will close in Flint, Mich., Gov. Rick Snyder announced Friday, more than two years after the state opened them in response to a man-made, lead-tainted drinking water crisis that threatened the health of its residents.
The statement came with an update that the city’s water has tested below the federal lead and copper limit of 15 parts per billion for about two years. Levels of 4 ppb were recorded during the first three months of 2018.
“We have worked diligently to restore the water quality and the scientific data now proves the water system is stable and the need for bottled water has ended,” Snyder, a Republican, said. “We will now focus even more of our efforts on continuing with the health, education and economic development assistance needed to help move Flint forward.”
Residents and local officials criticized the move, noting that many in the city of 100,000 remain distrustful after their water supply was contaminated with lead for 18 months. The contamination happened in 2014 and 2015 when officials used river water that wasn’t properly treated. As a result, lead leached from old pipes and fixtures, and the state is still working to replace pipes in the community.
“Over the past few weeks, residents of Flint have been expressing their great anxiety over the potential end to the supply of bottled water,” Mayor Karen Weaver wrote in a letter to state officials. “Free bottled water should be provided to the people of Flint until the last known lead-tainted pipe has been replaced.”
The four bottled-water sites will shutter once remaining supplies are depleted — an estimated four to seven days from now, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality spokeswoman, Tiffany Brown, said. Residents are no longer urged to avoid Flint’s tap water, she said.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage residents to use filters until their confidence in tap water is restored,” Brown said. “This is a personal choice because again, the water is in compliance with the federal standard.”