Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder plans to sign a bill sending $30 million to the city of Flint to help the city’s residents pay for their water bills due to the city’s lead-contaminated water.
The Michigan Senate gave final approval to the bill Tuesday morning, and Snyder indicated he would sign the bill quickly.
“The legislature’s approval of this $30 million plan to assist with Flint residents with water bills is a testament to the state’s continued commitment to helping during this crisis,” Snyder said.
The money will go toward paying a portion of the outstanding money owed by residents. Rather than paying the full water and sewer bill, it will pay for water services. Residents still will be responsible for sewage costs.
Flint residents currently can’t use their water because of the amount of lead present in some of the drinking water in the city’s homes.
In April 2014, the city switched water sources to the Flint River, the water from which ate away at the lead pipes bringing water to people’s homes. Some residents have been sickened by the lead water, and the state has told them not to drink the water.
The city is working out a plan with the state to rip out all of the lead water lines and replace them with more modern infrastructure. In the meantime, the city has switched back to its previous water source and is attempting to make the pipes usable again by applying corrosion control.
So far, the Michigan legislature has approved $70 million in aid for the city.
Flint residents paid about double the national average for water in 2015, a recent study showed. In October 2015, the state told residents to stop using the water because of the lead.
