Just as the nation thought things were over with the water situation in Flint, Mich., reports from the city say everything is not OK.
Residents in Flint continue to deal with issues with water three years after the city began receiving untreated water from the Flint River, which led to the water crisis. The State of Michigan started taking steps to remedy the contaminated water; however, reports indicate that not enough is being done.
Last week, protesters gathered at Flint City Hall organized by the group FlintH2OJustice. The group outlined several demands, including extending Medicare benefits to all current and former residents exposed to the water, declaring Flint a federal disaster area, stopping water bills and abolishing the emergency manager system.
Only one policy initiative has been passed by Michigan lawmakers over the last three years, and the state has spent a reported $250 million on water problems. The state was also required to replace all of Flint’s steel water lines over the next three years as part of a $97 million settlement along with $100 million from the federal government.
“My city was poisoned on April 25, 2014—three years ago today,” said State Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich. “To this day, we are still reeling from the devastating effects of reckless emergency management and a state government that failed to keep us safe. I have written legislation to lower the lead action level, to increase accountability by re-establishing the water resources commission and to make Flint a Promise Zone—to name just a few—and I expect the Legislature to support these critical measures.”
Last week, Mayor Karen Weaver announced that dozens of Flint residents will have their water service lines replaced as crews begin working to replace lead-tainted pipes leading to 6,000 homes during the 2017 phase of her FAST Start replacement initiative.
It’s estimated that up to 20,000 Flint residences still have lead and galvanized service lines that need to be replaced. The pipe replacement work is expected to be completed by 2020.
“We’ve replaced service lines at more than 850 homes since my FAST Start initiative began last year. This year our goal is 6,000 homes,” Weaver said. “With more work crews in the field starting next week, service lines to 900 homes will be replaced each month, so we’ll really start making progress.”
