Mayor Weaver Holds Forum to Update Residents on Next Phase of FAST Start, Other Water Recovery Efforts

February 2, 2018 (Flint, Mich)—  Mayor Karen Weaver announced Thursday that Flint City officials are putting plans in place to continue the next phase of the FAST Start pipe replacement program, along with other projects, as soon as the weather permits as part of an expanded water quality improvement program.

Speaking directly to Flint residents during a special community forum, Mayor Weaver introduced the new team working with the City to manage several water quality recovery efforts. Weaver explained the City has retained the services of the global infrastructure firm AECOM to oversee work taking place in Flint to manage the water system restoration program to provide safe drinking water for the residents of Flint.

Existing City records indicate there are about 12,000 remaining homes in Flint with lead or galvanized service lines. This year, the mayor’s FAST Start program will continue work to replace any lead or galvanized lines outside homes with copper service lines. AECOM’s Flint team will manage the project, directing contractors and crews working to reach the goal of replacing at least 6,000 lead-tainted pipes outside homes in 2018 and completing the project in 2019.

City officials released the bids for hydro-excavation work Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Over the next few weeks, contractors will be selected so that crews can be ready to start working in March to identify homes that have outside lead or galvanized service lines. FAST Start crews will begin replacing outside lead-tainted service lines in late April or early May.

AECOM will also:

– Work with the City of Flint to secure state funding for water transmission and distribution system upgrades,
– Manage the engineers selected by the City of Flint to design the transmission and distribution projects funded by the state,
– Manage the construction contractors selected by the City of Flint to upgrade the transmission and distribution systems,
– Assist with developing the local work force and creating job opportunities for Flint residents,
– Assist Flint in securing full recovery of program costs from the federal government and the State of Michigan

“We are confident that we have a good team in place,” said Mayor Weaver. “When this project is complete, we want all Flint residents to know that the work has been done to ensure the water flowing from the tap is drinkable without the need for a filter. We have a team in place with the world-renowned expertise and experience needed to complete this work properly, efficiently and on schedule.”

Weaver said the FAST Start program exceeded expectations in 2017, and now with more people in place to oversee the program the momentum will continue this spring.

“I am proud to say 6,256 lead-tainted pipes have been replaced in Flint since FAST Start launched in March of 2016. Each year we get better, and this year will be no exception. I expect AECOM will help us build on the significant strides made in 2017. We already have a head start. We are getting the RFPs in place and doing everything we can so that crews can begin digging as soon as possible this year.”

“AECOM is honored to have been selected by the City of Flint to manage the efforts to improve the City’s water system,” said Alan Wong, Senior Program Manager, for AECOM. “Our goal is to significantly raise the level of water quality throughout the City, for homeowners, residents, and businesses. We know this project is extremely important and the citizens of Flint expect their water system and water quality to meet, all local, state and national standards, as it should.”

Note:
In addition to being live streamed on the City of Flint Facebook Page, the Community Forum will air on Flint Public Access Television (FACT Channel 17) Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Noon, and again on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 10:00 p.m.

Lead Service Line removal Approach 2018

FAQ Sheet Water Quality Improvement Community Forum