It's not the water supply. It's the plumbing.
Posted: 10/02/2015 11:35 AM EDT
In
this Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 photo, Genetha Campbell carries free water
being distributed at the Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in Flint,
Mich, Since the financially struggling city broke away from the Detroit
water system last year, residents have been unhappy with the smell,
taste and appearance of water from the city’s river as they await the
completion of a pipe to Lake Huron. They also have raised health
concerns, reporting rashes, hair loss and other problems. A General
Motors plant stopped using the water, saying it was rusting its parts.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
DETROIT
(AP) -- A public health emergency has been declared in cash-strapped
Flint after tests showed the Michigan city's water supply is causing
elevated levels of lead in children and following months of complaints
about the smell and taste.
Gov. Rick Snyder
this week questioned the switch to the Flint River from the Detroit
water system in 2014, a decision that was made as a cost-saving move
while a new regional pipeline is built to Lake Huron.
And
on Thursday, the Genesee County health department declared a public
health emergency, recommending that people not drink the water unless it
has been filtered and tested to rule out elevated levels of lead. More
steps will be announced Friday.
The problem: Although the river water is treated, it is corrosive and releasing lead from old plumbing in thousands of homes.
A
coalition of residents and national groups petitioned the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to order the state to reconnect Flint to
Detroit water.
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