Despite Filters, Residents of Flint Still Uneasy About Water
By Peak Johnson
Though Flint, MI, may have received a slight reprieve with the assistance of filters for their contaminated water, there are residents who still deem the water unsafe for consumption.
An ongoing concern in Flint is whether the “most vulnerable populations” should drink filtered tap water or rely solely on bottled water, according to the Detroit Free Press.
In late June, the Genesee County Medical Society issued a statement urging pregnant women and children under the age of six to use only bottled water for drinking.
The U.S. EPA, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Genesee County Health Department are working together in backing a directive that all now can drink filtered water in Flint.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver rejected bids to replace the city's aging lead pipes late last month, because of “the high cost.” While city officials develop a new plan the government is telling residents to run their water regularly in an effort to flush lead out of the system, fox6now.com reported.
Scientists said in late June that filtered Flint water was safe to drink. However, problems such as older faucets not working with the filters persisted, as well as a lack of trust in official information.
City, state, and federal officials have yet to provide residents a target date by which they believe Flint water will be safe to drink again without using a filter, according to the Detroit Free Press. Many residents have said that they continue to rely on bottled drinking water.
Flint residents told ABC 12 they still don't trust municipal water supplies.
While bottled water donations are already down, it could be years until Flint residents have a safe alternative. A review by Gov. Snyder's office suggested the process of replacing the 20,000 to 25,000 suspected corroded pipes may ultimately cost at least $60 million.
To read more about the ongoing crisis in Flint, visit Water Online’s Drinking Water Contaminant Removal Solutions Center.