Crews Out in Flint Neighborhoods to Replace Service Lines at Nearly 800 Homes This Fall through FAST Start Initiative

November 1, 2016 (FLINT, Mich) — Crews began work on Phase 3 of Mayor Karen Weaver’s FAST Start initiative this week with the goal of replacing lead-tainted service lines leading to 788 more homes this fall.

Crews from two Flint companies are replacing lead and galvanized steel service lines leading from the street to the water meter in residents’ homes during this third phase of the FAST Start initiative, extending the mayor’s efforts to restore safe, clean drinking water to Flint residents.

Work crews plan to replace service pipes this week at homes on Copeman Boulevard and Begole Street between Forest Hill Avenue and Ballenger Highway; and on Oklahoma Avenue and Dakota Avenue between Lewis Street and Dort Highway.

“I know there are still a lot of legitimate concerns about the water, and I’m so pleased that my FAST Start initiative will reach hundreds more homes this fall,” Mayor Weaver said. “Residents in these neighborhoods can count on getting new copper service lines as long as they have an active water account and sign the required consent cards.”

Mayor Weaver launched the FAST Start initiative to help resolve a number of problems created after a state-appointed emergency manager switched the City’s water source to the Flint River in 2014 without the necessary corrosion control chemicals being added. The corrosive water removed a protective coating on the inside of the pipes, causing lead to leach into the water flowing to homes and businesses in the City of Flint.

While the level of lead in Flint’s water supply has been substantially reduced since the city switched back a year ago to water delivered from Lake Huron by the Great Lakes Water Authority, residents are still being urged to drink only filtered water, and to replace their filters when needed.

Crews installed new service lines at a total of 257 residences during the first two phases of FAST Start this year. Service lines at three abandoned homes were capped.