Feb. 2023 water main break updates

UPDATE: 10:15 a.m. February 13, 2023

Flint’s boil filtered water advisory is lifted

The boil filtered water advisory is now lifted for the city of Flint, effective 10:15 a.m. February 13, 2023, following two consecutive 24-hour testing rounds. This mandated sampling was conducted at 10 sites throughout the city of Flint and results were negative for Bac-T.

Additional testing is in process for the 24″ transmission main, which is repaired and repressurized, but still isolated from the rest of the water system. It will remain out of service until two rounds of Bac-T testing have been completed for this isolated area.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) offers the following guidance for Flint residents to ensure health and safety now that the boil filtered water advisory is lifted:

• Residents should flush their plumbing, following the guidance at this link: How to flush your plumbing.
• Residents should clean their faucet aerators, following the guidance this link: How to clean your aerator.
• Residents should change their water filter cartridges. Free water filter units and replacement cartridges are available for Flint residents at Flint City Hall, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Residents can also pick up free water testing kits at the same location.

Following the water main break, city crews have been flushing water mains throughout the city of Flint. This may cause discolored water. If you observe discolored water after flushing your home’s plumbing, call the water department at 810-766-7202. This line is monitored 24/7. If you leave a message after hours, someone will return your call as soon as possible.

“I want to thank residents for their patience over the weekend as we took precautions and completed mandated testing to protect public health and safety,” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “We will continue to aggressively pursue funding and resources to renovate our water infrastructure.”

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UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. February 12, 2023

Water main repaired; boil filtered water advisory continues through Monday

The 24” transmission main has been repaired. It has been repressurized, but will remain out of service until two rounds of bac-T testing have been completed.

The boil filtered water advisory will remain in place through Monday. We thank residents for their patience as we continue to take precautions to protect public health and safety.

Residents should continue to take the following precautions:

• Residents should use bottled water or filtered and boiled water for cooking, drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, rinsing foods, and mixing powdered infant formula. When using tap water, bring cold filtered water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
• When city crews flush water mains, it might cause discolored water. If you observe discolored water from your plumbing, call the water department at 810-766-7202. This line is monitored 24/7. If you leave a message after hours, someone will return your call as soon as possible.
• When the boil water advisory is lifted, residents should flush their building plumbing. How to flush your plumbing.
• When the boil water advisory is lifted, residents should clean their faucet aerators. How to clean your aerator.
• When the boil water advisory is lifted, residents should change their water filter cartridge. Free water filter units and replacement cartridges are available for Flint residents at Flint City Hall, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Residents can also pick up free water testing kits at the same location.
• Residents should continue to take appropriate precautions for lead reduction, such as using bottled water or a lead-reducing water filter after the water supply is free of bacteria.
• Harmful bacteria in drinking water can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

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UPDATE: 11:30 a.m. February 11, 2023

City of Flint crews are working to repair the 24” transmission main. They discovered a large split requiring 14-16 feet of pipe to be cut and replaced. They expect the repair to be completed later today.

The city will remain under a boil filtered water advisory while flushing and bacterial testing are completed. We anticipate these activities will continue through Monday, February 13.

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UPDATE: 3:48 p.m. February 10, 2023

Flint remains under boil filtered water advisory while water main repair continues; City issues additional guidance for residents

A 24-inch water transmission line near the Cedar St. reservoir failed this morning, causing a drop in water pressure throughout the city of Flint. The city of Flint remains under a boil filtered water advisory.

City crews have isolated the break and are working to repair the transmission line. When the transmission line repair is complete, the city will remain under a boil filtered water advisory while additional corrective actions—including flushing water mains—and bacterial testing are completed.

It is anticipated these activities will continue through Monday, February 13. When water testing results indicate the corrective actions were effective, the City will lift the boil filtered water advisory.

The City has increased the amount of water it is receiving from both Great Lakes Water Authority and Genesee County Drain Commission to maintain water service throughout the city. However, as work is completed, water pressure levels may continue to fluctuate.

Residents should take the following precautions:

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) offers the following guidance for Flint residents to ensure health and safety in the wake of the low-pressure incident:

• Residents should use bottled water or filtered and boiled water for cooking, drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, rinsing foods, and mixing powdered infant formula. When using tap water, bring cold filtered water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
• When city crews flush water mains, it might cause discolored water. If you observe discolored water from your plumbing, call the water department at 810-766-7202. This line is monitored 24/7. If you leave a message after hours, someone will return your call as soon as possible.
• When the boil water advisory is lifted, residents should flush their building plumbing. How to flush your plumbing.
• When the boil water advisory is lifted, residents should clean their faucet aerators. How to clean your aerator.
• When the boil water advisory is lifted, residents should change their water filter cartridge. Free water filter units and replacement cartridges are available for Flint residents at Flint City Hall, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Residents can also pick up free water testing kits at the same location.
• Residents should continue to take appropriate precautions for lead reduction, such as using bottled water or a lead-reducing water filter after the water supply is free of bacteria.
• Harmful bacteria in drinking water can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

The cause of the water main break has not yet been identified.

“As the City of Flint continues to upgrade our water infrastructure, we need to keep in mind that the integrity of our infrastructure is uneven,” Department of Public Works Director Mike Brown said. “Some of it is state of the art, and some of it is very old. We continue to aggressively pursue funding and resources to upgrade our water infrastructure.”

Both the Cedar St. reservoir and its pump station are scheduled for renovation this year.

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UPDATE: 10:50 a.m. February 10, 2023

Residents citywide are advised to boil water for drinking and cooking due to a major water main break. Locations throughout the city may experience low water pressure.

The City of Flint Water Department has identified the source of the break on Cedar St. near the Shelter of Flint. Please avoid the area while crews work to restore water service.

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Effective 10:12 a.m. February 10, 2023 —The City of Flint Water Department is working to identify the source of a major water main break affecting large portions of the city of Flint.

Locations throughout the city may experience low water pressure.

We will share more information as soon as it becomes available. Check this webpage for updates.

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