Flint River | Susan J. Demas
The latest testing indicates that even under a stricter standard, the drinking water in Flint remains in compliance with the state’s Lead and Copper Rule.
According to results announced Thursday by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the latest six-month monitoring period for lead in Flint’s drinking water indicated a level of 3 parts per billion (ppb), which is in the 90th percentile calculation for the samples collected.
The results are not only below the 15 ppb standard under the state’s Lead and Copper Rule, but also below the new 12 ppb standard that went into effect for sampling on Jan. 1.
Since July 2016, the city of Flint’s water system has tested below action levels for both lead and copper during 18 consecutive monitoring periods.
The testing is a result of the 2014 Flint Water Crisis which was precipitated by a switch from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River, part of a cost-cutting move under an emergency manager appointed three years earlier by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.
The failure of officials from the former Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to follow federal regulations requiring corrosion control chemicals allowed aging pipes and lead service lines to leach lead into the city’s drinking water supply, affecting thousands of residents, including children.
At least 12 people also died from an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in 2014 and 2015 connected to low chlorine levels in the city’s water supply.
Thursday’s announcement also included word from EGLE that it had verified or completed restorations of yards at roughly 1,800 Flint properties that had their water service lines excavated or replaced. That work, which was performed under a legal agreement between the city, the state, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), was completed through a partnership between the city and state.
While the deadline for the restorations to be completed was Aug. 1, officials say all were concluded by December 2024 with more than 98% of Flint’s residential lead service lines having been replaced.
“Our partnership with Flint in removing the last residential lead service lines is a huge step toward ensuring that every resident in the city has healthy, plentiful drinking water,” said Phil Roos, EGLE director. “We recognize no amount of lead in drinking water is acceptable, and continue to pursue lead line removal in Flint, and statewide.”
In addition to the $97 million already spent on lead service line replacement and restorations in the city, the State disbursed an additional $2.4 million for yard and road repairs.
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