News Releases from Region 05

EPA Flint Drinking Water Response Activities - Update 1/28/16

FLINT, MICH. -- EPA teams are collecting drinking water samples from Flint homeowners to better understand how lead is behaving in the plumbing in their homes and to ensure proper corrosion control is being restored in the drinking water system in order to lower lead levels. EPA community involvement and sampling teams continue to meet with residents to explain the sampling process and answer questions.

Samples will be sent to an EPA laboratory for analysis. The quality assured results of the samples collected by EPA will be shared with individual homeowners and the results will be posted on EPA's website. EPA will also ensure removal of any personal information from the results and will post the data as soon as it becomes available.

Last week, EPA issued a Safe Drinking Water Act Emergency Order to ensure the state and city immediately take actions necessary to protect public health. The Safe Drinking Water Act Emergency Order requires the state of Michigan and city of Flint to take a series of immediate steps to address the drinking water contamination in Flint.

EPA recommends that residents continue to use filters or drink bottled water. EPA also recommends that residents, if they have concerns, contact their local health provider to have themselves or their children tested for lead. EPA will continue to work with the city of Flint to monitor drinking water quality and to ensure the public is receiving up to date information.

EPA information is available at www.epa.gov/flint and Spanish language information is being provided online.