The federal government said Friday that recoating the lead pipes in Flint could be done by May 1, which means residents of the eastern Michigan town could be able to drink their water by August.
The federal announcement was made in a letter extending the federal emergency in Flint until mid-August. The completion of adding corrosion control to the water could mean Flint residents would be able to safely drink their water by August.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder acknowledged the federal estimate but said there would be no “all clear” given until testing showed the water was safe.
Snyder announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency extended President Obama’s emergency declaration until Aug. 14. It had been set to expire next month.
The extension means federal supplies of bottled water, water filters, cartridges for those filters and testing kits for water can continue to come for four more months. The state government estimates residents will be able to drink their water by the time the emergency expires.
“With this federal assistance, much-needed resources will continue to be available to Flint residents while this crisis exists,” Snyder said. “We are working diligently with local, state and federal partners to ensure the people of Flint have access to quality drinking water at their homes as soon as possible.”
In April 2014, a state emergency manager appointed by Snyder signed off on a symbolic vote from the Flint City Council to change the city’s water source. The move aimed to cut costs by requiring the city to take its water from the Flint River instead of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department while a new pipeline was built to connect the city to Lake Huron.
The Flint River water, however, was so acidic that it caused the lead pipes bringing water from the city’s cast iron mains into homes to corrode. Lead leached off the pipes and into the drinking water throughout the city.
The state and the federal government have declared a state of emergency, and Flint residents are not able to drink the water coming out of their taps.
A state report released Wednesday said the state government caused and bungled its response to the crisis.
FEMA told the state that Friday’s extension would be the final one.
