The press release of April 12, 2016 indicates that in March 2016, 174 Flint residents (out of 269 who participated in the original August 2015 sampling of Flint water) re-sampled their homes for lead in drinking water. The goal was to track possible improvements since the switch back to Detroit water in October 2015 and implementation of improved corrosion control (i.e., extra phosphate added beyond that present in Detroit water) starting December 2015. This work was coordinated by Virginia Tech and was funded by the U.S. EPA (EPA).
The following conclusions are based on a preliminary evaluation of this sampling event...
- Flint is Not Yet Meeting the 90 percentile Lead Action Level
- Lead Levels Are Lower Now Than in August 2015
- Iron Levels (and Red Water Complaints) Are Decreasing
- To Speed Up Recovery of The System, Many Residents Will Need to Use More Water
In the next few weeks, it is likely that the EPA and/or the state, will recommend a flushing program for homes with input from Virginia Tech, to help with system recovery and pipe cleaning. If implemented, many problems with lead, discolored water and even certain problems associated with bacteria will be brought under control more quickly. Consumers who use very little water, are likely to have more persistent problems, than those who are using more water or who will follow the recommended flushing program.
*Disclaimer: Although the information in this document has been gathered with funding by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it may not necessarily reflect the views of the EPA and no official endorsement of either the result or recommendations should be inferred.
See PPT presentation at the bottom of the press release.
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