FLINT, Mich. For the ninth consecutive round, results from Extended Sentinel Site testing for the City of Flint’s water system have tested below action levels of the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). This latest round of testing shows that 90 percent of the Tier I samples are at or below 6 parts per billion (PPB), which is well below the 15 PPB federal action level.
“Testing shows that for over a year now, more than 90 percent of Tier I sites, which are sites that may have a lead service line or are considered high risk, were at or below the federal action level of 15 PPB,” said Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and former interim director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality who remains the principal on Flint water. “The city’s water is one of the most monitored systems in the U.S. with respect to lead, and the results are comparable to cities with similar size and age of infrastructure in Michigan and across the nation.”
These latest testing results from May 2017 show 90 percent of Tier I samples at or below 6 PPB and 93.1 percent of the samples at or below 15 PPB. The federal standard calls for at least 90 percent to be at or below 15 PPB. A Tier I site is considered at higher risk per federal guidelines. This includes homes that have a lead service line or meet other criteria that make it an eligible location to determine compliance with the federal LCR.
The current LCR 6-month monitoring period for the City of Flint ends June 30, 2017. Official results will be announced in mid-July once a complete review of the compliance data has been completed. However, based on all of the Tier I data currently available, the City of Flint appears to be on track to again perform significantly below the federal action level requirements for the second consecutive 6-month monitoring period.
As a reminder, state officials recommend that all residents use water filters provided by the state in areas where construction activities are taking place to remove service lines. Irrespective of the LCR, state officials are supportive of the removal of lead and galvanized service lines to further improve water quality in Flint.
Residents can call 810-238-6700 with questions about filter usage or to schedule a home visit by a CORE (Community Outreach and Resident Education) member. The CORE program has been established to ensure Flint residents are properly installing, using and maintaining their water filters and are aware of available resources. CORE teams are comprised of Flint residents going door-to-door to assist fellow residents.
Source: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
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