Flint lead levels still below federal action limit

Michael Gerstein | The Detroit News

Lansing — Lead levels in Flint’s municipal water supply remain below the federal standard for the ninth consecutive test, state officials said Friday.

The latest round of lead testing shows 90 percent of the water samples taken in Flint in May were at or below 6 parts per billion, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires remediation if water tests reveal more than 15 parts per billion.

The latest round of testing shows that Flint’s lead tainted water problem has improved since the state and federal government began remediation efforts, including adding corrosion control chemicals and switching the city back onto Detroit’s water system.

Flint’s water became contaminated with lead after state-appointed emergency managers switched its water source from the Detroit water system to the corrosive Flint River without applying corrosion control chemicals. The corrosive water caused lead to leach from the city’s aging pipes into the water supply and has been connected to more than 12 Legionnaires’ disease deaths and the lead poisoning of some residents.

Michigan officials still urge Flint residents to drink either bottled or filtered water. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“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,” said Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and former DEQ director who remains involved in Flint issues.

A six-month lead monitoring period for Flint ends June 30, the DEQ said. In mid-July, state officials will announce the final lead testing results.

mgerstein@detroitnews.com

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