MDEQ says: Flint’s Water System Continues to Improve, Meets Federal Lead and Copper Rule for Eighth Consecutive Time

FLINT, Mich– On May 3, 2017, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued the following press release:

For the eighth consecutive round, results from Extended Sentinel Site testing for the City of Flint’s water system have tested below action levels of the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). This latest round of testing shows that 90 percent of the Tier I samples are at or below 6 parts per billion (PPB), which is well below the 15 PPB federal action level.

“This is the eighth sentinel round in a row, going back to May 2016, where more than 90 percent of Tier 1 sites were at or below the federal action level of 15 PPB,” said Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and former interim director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality who remains the principal on Flint water. “The city’s water is one of the most monitored systems in the U.S. with respect to lead, and the results are comparable to cities with similar size and age of infrastructure in Michigan and across the nation.”

These latest testing results from April 2017 show 90 percent of Tier I samples at or below 6 PPB and 94.9 percent of the samples at or below 15 PPB. The federal standard calls for at least 90 percent to be at or below 15 PPB. A Tier I site is considered at higher risk per federal guidelines. This includes homes that have a lead service line or meet other criteria that make it an eligible location to determine compliance with the federal LCR.

As a reminder, state officials recommend that all residents use water filters provided by the state in areas where construction activities are taking place to remove service lines.

Residents can call 810-238-6700 with questions about filter usage or to schedule a home visit by a CORE (Community Outreach and Resident Education) member. The CORE program has been established to ensure Flint residents are properly installing, using and maintaining their water filters and are aware of available resources. CORE teams are comprised of Flint residents going door-to-door to assist fellow residents.

Courtesy of: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality