At 1,000 Day Milestone, Flint Water Sees Improvement And Challenges

In a recent six-month study, the levels of lead in Flint, MI, drinking water tested below the federal limit, the state department announced this month.

The study was conducted early last July and was concluded at the end of that year, and it found that levels of lead were 12 ppb or lower in 90 percent of the samples taken.

While pipe replacements are still ongoing, CNN reported that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) suggested that residents “use filtered water for drinking and cooking.”

"The remarkable improvement in water quality over the past year is a testament to all levels of government working together and the resilient people of Flint helping us help them," Governor Rick Snyder, said. "There is still more work to do in Flint, and I remain committed to helping the residents recover and restore their city."

The 98,000 residents have been dealing with the contamination crisis for more than two years since the state switched the city's water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River.

Last Thursday signified 1,000 days since Flint switched water sources, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Since Flint’s drinking water returned to Detroit’s system in October 2015, according to both government officials and environmental researchers, “there has been a steady decline in the overall levels of lead and other bacteria.”

Since March of last year, Flint has replaced lead service lines for 780 homes. At a town hall meeting, “officials estimated that it will take approximately three years to completely replace all of the city’s lead water-service lines,” per The Detroit News. Funding has not been found to support this project.