Emails from DWSD show that the department was offering or intending to offer a substantial discount on water service to Flint.
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“Several cities, Detroit, Flint, Pontiac, Saginaw – I’ve made a focused effort since before I started in office to say, we need to work hard to help people that have the greatest need”.
He said by naming an “independent” investigation team separate from his office, he will ensure “an ethics-based conflict wall” exists between the attorney general’s office, the investigation team, and the group who will defend Republican Governor Rick Snyder and the state against any lawsuits that come from the crisis.
The Snyder administration has said drinking water regulators failed to correctly interpret the federal Lead and Copper Rule and require corrosion controls in the Flint River water.
The former Secretary of State said, in a statement, that the state’s reassurances that Flint River water was safe for human consumption is “unconscionable”. Although most water systems do test for lead contamination, the larger test sometimes does not reflect accurately the condition of an individual home.
“There’s really no doubt that some of the older homes in town are going to have some lead containing materials or lead solder in their pipes”, said Todd Brewer, Water Quality Lab Manager.
Almost two years ago, the city of Flint, Michigan switched to a less expensive water source that turned out to be highly corrosive and led to lead poisoning of many children.
Recent estimates say it may take up to 15 years and over $60 million to undo the damage caused to the water system.
Snyder declared a state of emergency in Genesee County on January 5 and earlier this month President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration opening the door for federal aid to deal with Flint’s water crisis.
Some researchers question whether chemical treatment and routine testing for lead in the water are enough, arguing that the only way to remove the threat is to replace the pipes.
He continued, “I wonder how much time you get for knowingly & actually delivering unsafe, dangerous, and poisonous drinking water to the people you represent?”
Part of the general consensus about the choice to switch the water source in Flint, Michigan, from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) and the interim Flint River source has been that the DWSD was simply too expensive to continue using. A 56 percent majority of Americans think government should do more to regulate the safety of the public water supply, up 9 points since the aftermath of the Toledo water crisis in 2014.
Sovereign immunity does not apply if the government or an employee infringes on the USA constitution, as in, for example, cases where police have allegedly violated someone’s civil rights. The EPA expects a proposal to be ready for public comment in 2017.
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“The chemistry changed, and they didn’t do their homework”, Vander Stel said.
