Mayor Weaver Responds to Water Quality Results Presented by Marc Edwards

(FLINT, Mich)— Mayor Karen Weaver issued the following statement today after learning about the results of the most recent testing on the quality of water in Flint conducted by Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards and his team of students:

“I was a bit surprised to learn through media reports of the latest findings of Marc Edwards and his team.  It would have been nice to have had an opportunity to review the data before an announcement was made publicly that speaks of the beginning of the end to our city’s water crisis.

Nevertheless, it is encouraging to hear that the test results from Edwards and his team at Virginia Tech show Flint’s water quality, as it relates to lead, continues to improve. However, I am yet cautious and my goals are unchanged.  My primary objective remains getting all lead-tainted pipes in Flint replaced. I will not abandon my apprehensions until that goal is reached and our residents have tap drinkable water. I agree with Dr. Edwards in that we must continue to urge residents to keep using water filters, at least until all the lead tainted pipes have been removed and the FAST Start program is complete.

As it relates to the “crisis in confidence”, we know it will take time and identifiable results in order to rebuild residents’ trust in the water system and in government officials. My administration and I will continue to do all we can to help residents regain confidence in our drinking water. We recently fought to keep water distribution sites open in Flint because we needed time to more fully assess the progress being made and to communicate this with our residents.  In doing this, we continue to work closely with the medical and public health community. Furthermore, once a long-term water source is determined, we will know even more about steps that must be taken to ensure the safety of our water.”