The tweets came hours after Snyder declared an emergency in Flint and the Justice Department said it was investigating the contamination of the city’s water supply.
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Flint, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, returned to Detroit water in October after tests found some children had elevated levels of lead in their blood and lead was found in higher-than-acceptable levels in the water. In a state of emergency declaration, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver indicated that more funding will be needed for special education services because lead “can cause effects to a child’s IQ, which will result in learning disabilities”.
Snyder spokesman Dave Murray said the state would cooperate with any requests from the US attorney’s office “as it looks into Flint’s water challenges”. The agency did not address the water’s corrosiveness after switching the city’s water source to the Flint River as a cost-saving measure in 2014.
The Center for Disease and Control says that people who are exposed to high levels of lead are at a higher risk for seizures, coma, or death.
The state of emergency could lead to a future request for federal assistance in the city’s toxic water crisis.
Last week, Mr Snyder apologised and Michigan’s top environmental regulator resigned after a task force set up by the governor blamed the problems on his agency. According to MLive.com, it is unclear whether responsibility for the decision lies in the hands of the city or the state, but it was forecast that switching to Flint River water would save the city about $5 million during a period of financial emergency. The city ordered public schools to stop running water for taps and water fountains, according to WEYI-TV, another CNN affiliate.
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In a move that combines real life with academia, the University of Michigan-Flint is offering a special class that will teach participants about the city’s water crisis. Please see our terms of service for more information. “I don’t trust it”.
