Flint, Michigan has become the epicenter of the lead water crisis in the United States, but hundreds of schools across the country have tested positive for unsafe lead levels in their water over the past three years, according to a new report.
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Professor Marc Edwards from Virginia Tech University has spent the last 8-months studying hundreds of water samples from flint.
Officials also have advised residents to clean the aerators on their kitchen and bathroom faucets at least once a week, and to continue using filtered water for cooking and drinking.
The DNR will ask the state’s larger water systems to post online an inventory of homes that likely have lead service lines, particularly homes built before 1950.
Water in Flint, Michigan, is getting better, but there’s still plenty of work to do, Virginia Tech researchers said Tuesday morning.
That’s what needs to happen, said Munroe-Younis, who believes her 4-month-old son’s skin problems may be related to bath water.
The testing data, collected last month, shows Flint water is still testing at 23 ppb of lead at the 90th percentile. However, in some homes there was still plenty of lead, Pieper said. Under the direction of a state-appointed emergency manager, Flint switched water supplies to the Flint River from Detroit’s system in 2014 to save money.
“Unfortunately, water issues have plagued our Old Lyme facility for several years, even before lead was detected as an issue there”, said DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain.
Proper corrosion controls were not in place to stop lead from leaching into the water. They found high levels of lead and other contaminants. Right now, they’re planning for another round of testing in August.
Weaver reiterated the need for state and federal funding to replace thousands of damaged lead and galvanized pipes that run from water mains into homes.
Virginia Tech researchers who uncovered the Flint, Michigan water crisis revealed their newest research Tuesday.
Water is a precious resource, and the recent review of water quality across the state should bring some added comfort to local residents about the quality of the water flowing from their taps.
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Edwards said he hopes more testing comes in August to see where the city is, but he will continue trying to help before that.
