Mayor's Office

Pipes at 93 Homes Replaced So Far through Mayor Weaver’s FAST Start Initiative

September 19, 2016 (FLINT) — Lead-tainted service lines at 93 homes have been replaced so far as part of Mayor Karen Weaver’s FAST Start initiative, with 50 homes getting new copper pipes last week.

Crews from three area companies are starting the third week of work since the second phase of the FAST Start initiative got underway. They’re expected to complete pipe replacements at 200 to 250 homes by the end of September, extending the mayor’s efforts to restore safe, clean drinking water to Flint residents.

“I commend the crews for replacing lead and galvanized steel pipes at nearly 100 homes in just the first two weeks,” said retired Brigadier General Michael McDaniel, who is overseeing the FAST Start project. “To keep us on track, we need homeowners, landlords and tenants in the targeted areas to promptly sign permission slips and grant work crews access to their homes so we can meet our goal.”

Work crews plan to replace water service lines this week at homes on Arizona Avenue, Walters Street and Boston Avenue.

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.

This phase of the pipe replacement program will help city leaders get a better idea of the true cost of replacing service lines at each home. During the first phase of FAST Start earlier this year, service pipes to 33 homes were replaced.

Bids are due at noon Tuesday on three new Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to replace an additional 1,030 lead-tainted pipes this fall. Contractors can view the RFP on the City’s website and use the guidelines provided to create and submit their bid to join the effort to get the lead out of Flint.