Flint’s drinking water controversy has led to the cancelation of a festival celebrating the Flint River. On Friday, the state authorities said that funds of $1 million have been set aside for setting up water filters for residents in the area. It does not include restoring Detroit as the water source.
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Just a day after Gov. Rick Snyder insisted that the consequences of drinking Flint’s water were not “fully understood”, county commissioners issued a recommendation for citizens not to drink the water before it was filtered. In two zip codes, the percentage of children with above-average lead levels tripled. Anything above 5 micrograms per deciliter of blood is now considered risky, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says any lead in the blood-especially in young children-can cause harm.
Flint administrator Natasha Henderson urged the committee to not think about cost and decide “what’s in the best interest” for Flint, which has a water crisis due to elevated levels of lead in children. They also said filters should be installed in homes. “From what I see, the state is working very well with us”. The scientists hired by local residents aren’t the only ones expressing misgivings about the state’s remediation efforts. But an EPA spokesman said the federal agency is already involved.
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The state’s contribution would require the support of the Michigan Legislature.
