Michigan wont give Flint free bottled water, even though lead pipes are still in use

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Michigan won’t be giving the city of Flint free bottled water anymore, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) announced, claiming that water quality is now “well within the standards.”

The governor’s office said that the city’s water has been below the federal lead levels for nearly two years, and thus the remaining four water distribution sites in the city will only remain open until their current supply runs out.

“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 said in a statement Friday.

“Since Flint’s water is now well within the standards set by the federal government, 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. I remain steadfast in that commitment.”

But many other city officials and public health experts think it’s too soon to end the program.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver (D) said she found out the program was ending only shortly before the announcement was made.

“I know this is not the situation any of us want to be in,” Weaver said in a statement. “We did not cause the man-made water disaster, therefore adequate resources should continue being provided until the problem is fixed and all the lead and galvanized pipes have been replaced.”

Weaver’s office predicted that the current supply of water would be finished by the end of the weekend. The New York Times reported that residents rushed to stock up on free water at distribution centers after Friday’s announcement.

https://thinkprogress.org/michigan-wont-give-flint-free-bottled-water-d959e535b79b/

[NickB79]

1. The lead pipes weren't the real culprit, though

The city was using lead pipes for a century without issue.

The problem came from improper water treatments of the new water supply that changed the chemistry and allowed the lead to start leaching into the supply.

[Igel]

2. That would take two things to accept.

The first is a bit of knowledge of chemistry.

The second is trust.

Both are lacking.

Actually, there's also a third. A willingness to stop shouting and just be. For many, there's no existence without complaining. It's their default state. If they're not fighting somebody or something, they're seriously confused and sit mired in suspicion looking for somebody to fight. (First example that comes to mind: My mother. But then there are scores of examples.)

[NickB79]

3. Agreed. They lost public trust with this debacle

Now they're forced to spend massive amounts of money replacing pipes they don't really have to replace because they tried to save a few bucks skimping on water treatments a couple of years ago.