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

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Michigan won’t give Flint free bottled water, even though lead pipes are still in use
This is tragic.
Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani
Apr 8, 2018, 3:16 pm


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.”

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