Rick Snyder apologizes for the Flint drinking water crisis

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Flint Residents Barred From Closed-Door Water Quality Meeting

Advocates and residents are concerned that officials are rushing to declare the city's water supply safe

Residents of Flint, Michigan who traveled to Chicago were barred from attending a private meeting Tuesday between Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and other officials, who advocates say are rushing to declare the city's water supply safe.

Outrage over the closed-door meeting prompted protests in Flint and Chicago, where residents held signs outside the Water Quality Summit asking for their detailed water quality report.

Inside the summit, officials from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), as well as Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, who is credited with exposing the lead contamination crisis, met with Snyder to discuss current sample data, ignoring testimony from residents.

"My eyes are still burning. I can't breathe when I get out of the shower...we're still melting here," Flint resident Tony Palladeno said in a recording aired onTYT. Many residents have reported similar symptoms, particularly in regards to the city's shower water, which TYT host Cenk Uygur notes was not tested.

Synder, a Republican, has claimed that the water quality is improving and said the summit will allow experts to review all of the available data. But advocates are warning that current tests are not sufficient to declare the city's water free of dangerous contamination, and residents feel it is their right to be privy to the discussion.

"Tests that show the water is OK in one place don't mean that it will be OK in another place or that it will be OK the next day if it's tested in the same place," Laura Sullivan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Flint's Kettering University, told the Detroit Free Press.

For instance, in the city's schools, there has been an inconsistent effort to replace water fixtures and install filters.

Flint Residents Barred From Closed-Door Water Quality Meeting | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community
 

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Unfiltered Flint water is safe, just don't drink it, says state attorney


Unfiltered Flint water is safe, just don't drink it, says state attorney | MLive.com


 

tay

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The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has issued a boil water advisory for residents and businesses in parts of Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck Wednesday morning.

Residents and businesses south of McNichols and east of Linwood and west of Conner are advised to boil water before drinking it or using it to cook.

Due to a temporary drop in pressure in the water supply Tuesday evening, bacterial contamination may have occurred in the water system, according to a news release. Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout the environment, the release said. Whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended.

The Great Lakes Water Authority and DWSD are working to get pressure restored, and water staff will be taking other remedial actions such as flushing and collecting bacteriological samples from around the system. The samples will be collected to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standards. GLWA and DWSD will inform customers when tests show no bacteria and customers no longer need to boil water.

According to the advisory, you should bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice, according to the release. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Boil water advisory issued for part of Detroit over bacteria concerns
 

tay

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This former official dodged jail time in the Flint water crisis, just has to write an apology letter.

A Michigan district court judge ordered that Corinne Miller, the former director of epidemiology at the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, publicly apologize to the residents of Flint for withholding information about the presence of the Legionella bacteria, the microbe that causes Legionnaires’ disease, in the city’s drinking water.

After pleading no contest to a charge of neglect, Miller also got a year’s probation and 300 hours of community service — essentially a slap on the wrist. She is cooperating with special prosecutors pursuing cases against several former employees of the health department and the state’s Department of Environmental Quality for their role in Flint’s water crisis.

Twelve Flint residents were confirmed to have died in 2014 and 2015 from Legionnaires’ disease, an extreme type of pneumonia. But in January, statistics released by Genesee County, where Flint is located, appeared to confirm public health experts’ suspicions that the city’s water in fact caused additional pneumonia deaths.

Miller’s attorney argued against her having to make a public mea culpa, but Judge Jennifer J. Manley said the demand was “perfectly appropriate in this case.” Considering that even more people were sickened than previously believed, it’s the least she could do.

This former official dodged jail time in the Flint water crisis, just has to write an apology letter. | Grist
 

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Michigan, Flint to replace 18,000 lead-tainted water lines

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan and the city of Flint agreed Monday to replace thousands of home water lines under a sweeping deal to settle a lawsuit by residents over lead-contaminated water in the struggling city.

Flint will replace at least 18,000 lead or galvanized-steel water lines by 2020, and the state will pick up the bill with state and federal money, according to the settlement filed in federal court. It will be presented to a judge on Tuesday for his approval.

More than 700 water lines already have been replaced and work is ongoing, but the agreement would rid Flint's roughly 100,000 residents of uncertainty over how to pay for the enormous task. Under the settlement, the state will set aside $87 million and keep another $10 million in reserve if necessary.

"The proposed agreement is a win for the people of Flint," said Dimple Chaudhary, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan to represent Flint residents.

"It provides a comprehensive framework to address lead in Flint tap water and covers a number of critical issues related to water safety," Chaudhary told The Associated Press.

Flint's water was tainted with lead for at least 18 months, as the city tapped the Flint River but didn't treat the water to reduce corrosion. As a result, lead leached from old pipes and fixtures.

Water quality has improved but residents still are advised to use filters if drawing water from the kitchen tap.

https://apnews.com/c85f78dc0f6042db...utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=APCentralRegion
 

Curious Cdn

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Michigan, Flint to replace 18,000 lead-tainted water lines

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan and the city of Flint agreed Monday to replace thousands of home water lines under a sweeping deal to settle a lawsuit by residents over lead-contaminated water in the struggling city.

Flint will replace at least 18,000 lead or galvanized-steel water lines by 2020, and the state will pick up the bill with state and federal money, according to the settlement filed in federal court. It will be presented to a judge on Tuesday for his approval.

More than 700 water lines already have been replaced and work is ongoing, but the agreement would rid Flint's roughly 100,000 residents of uncertainty over how to pay for the enormous task. Under the settlement, the state will set aside $87 million and keep another $10 million in reserve if necessary.

"The proposed agreement is a win for the people of Flint," said Dimple Chaudhary, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan to represent Flint residents.

"It provides a comprehensive framework to address lead in Flint tap water and covers a number of critical issues related to water safety," Chaudhary told The Associated Press.

Flint's water was tainted with lead for at least 18 months, as the city tapped the Flint River but didn't treat the water to reduce corrosion. As a result, lead leached from old pipes and fixtures.

Water quality has improved but residents still are advised to use filters if drawing water from the kitchen tap.

https://apnews.com/c85f78dc0f6042db...utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=APCentralRegion

Is that Federal money doing that? If the rest of the environmental protections are being stripped away, why would this project survive?

I'll believe it when I see it. The US doesn't know how to solve problems, anymore.
 

Danbones

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Article Summary

Bottled water is sold everywhere and is a staple stock item. But should we be concerned and is bottled water safe to drink?

The environmental impact of bottled water is high with over 60 million water bottles being thrown away each day in the United States alone. Only a small percentage of these (around one in six) get recycled.

Chemicals leaching out of discarded plastic water bottles finds its way into our soil, rives, and lakes − contaminating our drinking water.

There are 3 health-damaging types of chemicals commonly found in plastic water bottles:

Bisphenol A (BPA)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Phthalates
Filtered tap water is your best bet for safe drinking water. Look for a quality filter system that removes chlorine, fluoride, as well as bacteria.

Here are 4 Tips For Reducing Your Exposure to Toxins Released By Plastic:

Exchange your plastic bottles for stainless steel or glass
Invest in a good quality carbon water filter and filter your tap water and store it in glass or ceramic containers
Avoid cooking and heating any food or water in plastic or Styrofoam
If you must eat or drink from plastic be careful not to expose the food to the sun, high heat, microwave, or cut into the plastic while you are consuming the product.
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/is-bottled-water-safe/

Out of the frying pan into the frying water.
"democide" its called.
Biggest killer on the planet
...AND you get to vote on who pulls the trigger before they send you the bill for the bullet
 

tay

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Good thing they tried to save some money by switching from the Detroit river to the Flint river water system...........


Flint goes back to using Detroit water


Flint's three-year drinking water crisis erupted when the city under the rule of a state-appointed emergency manager switched from Detroit water to the Flint River in April 2014.

Gov. Rick Snyder praised the city of Flint’s plan to sign a long-term deal with Detroit's water system after the city's departure from it four years ago set in motion one of the nation’s worst drinking water crises.

Snyder told reporters Tuesday that he was pleased to see the tentative agreement reached between city, county, state and federal leaders to provide new financial incentives for Flint to return for the next 30 years to the Detroit system now known as the Great Lakes Water Authority.

“That’s the success we like to see when people work together like that,” Snyder said. “This is a major step forward in terms of providing a better water supply for Flint, for the county and for the Great Lakes Water Authority.”

Officials also are exploring possible links between the river water and outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease tied to at least 12 deaths. The state attorney general has filed criminal charges against several city and state employees in connection with the water crisis.

Flint moves to keep Detroit water amid recovery
 

tay

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Flint puts 8,000 people on notice for tax liens for unpaid water bills


After May 19, for those who do not pay, a lengthy process begins which could end in foreclosure.

Mays now plans to go against what she believes and pay up so she can keep her family's home.

"While I understand this is the way the law reads we are in a totally different situation," said Mays.

City leaders say they are in a bind and they need the cash.

"We have to have revenue coming in, so we can't give people revenue, I mean excuse me, give people water at the tap and not get revenue coming in to pay those bills," said Al Mooney, City of Flint Treasury Department.

Mooney says the shut offs are already working in the city's favor. Last month Flint brought in nearly $3 million for water. That is nearly $1 million more from the month prior when they only collected $2.1 million.

Mooney hopes the 8,000 tax lien notices that went out with prompt even more people to pay their water bills. If all of those were paid up that would bring in nearly $6 million for the city.

Congressman Dan Kildee issued a statement Wednesday after reports that some Flint residents recently received notices of potential tax liens being placed on their properties for unpaid water bills during the water crisis:

Flint families should not have to pay for water that they still cannot drink, and they certainly should not lose their homes over this ongoing water crisis that was caused by the callous decisions of state government. It is unfortunate that Governor Snyder ended water credits for Flint families. I opposed this decision because Flint families deserve support from the state until there is confidence in the water system again.”


Flint puts 8,000 people on notice for tax liens for unpaid water bills | WEYI
 

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Flint Official Says Water Crisis Caused By ‘Ni**ers Not Paying Their Bills’


Stair, a government employee through the Land Bank, which, according to its website, is a “non-profit government organization,” went on to explain to the activists his theory on the water crisis—one that’s been parroted by Governor Snyder and many other state and local officials.

https://truthagainstthemachine.com/...l-water-crisis-caused-niers-not-paying-bills/
 

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County treasurer won’t foreclose on homes with unpaid water bills because “water was poison”

The Genesee County official charged with collecting delinquent taxes says she won't collect money for tax liens placed on homes with overdue water bills. That means Flint homes with delinquent water bills will avoid the threat of foreclosure.

Flint’s state-appointed Receivership Transition Advisory Board recently ordered the City of Flint to resume placing tax liens on homes that didn’t keep up with their water bills during the time when Flint’s water wasn’t safe to drink or use for bathing.

Genesee County Treasurer Deb Cherry’s office is currently collecting delinquent 2015 taxes. She says the city placed liens on homes with overdue water bills in 2015, which she did not accept.

“It was an extra extraordinary situation because the water was poison,” Cherry said. "People couldn’t drink the water, so my office and I decided we were not going to put those liens on [delinquent 2015 tax bills] because if they’re not paid, the law says I have to foreclose.”

Cherry says her office did accept liens placed on homes for unpaid sewage bills.

Michigan Radio recently found more than 10 percent of Flint homes owe more than $1000 in overdue water bills.

Cherry says not accepting the delinquent water bill liens was a moral issue.

“This was an extra extraordinary event, and it was a fraudulent tax because the water is poison,”
Cherry said.

She says she is not overriding the Receivership Transition Advisory Board’s (RTAB) authority because RTAB had not yet taken any action in 2015. She says the city of Flint applied the liens for that year. Still, Cherry believes the law gives her authority to consider the broader context of the Flint water crisis, and to refuse to accept the liens on those grounds.

“My concern is with the citizens of the city. I do not believe that we should be foreclosing on property just because of water liens … It’s up to the city and state as to how they get that money,” Cherry said.

While Cherry says she’s trying to prevent foreclosing on homes that didn’t pay for water that was “poison," RTAB and the City of Flint are focusing on collecting delinquent water bills to pay for the maintenance and operation of the city’s water system.

“It is a mess, but it doesn’t mean that it’s right to foreclose on people’s homes because of it,” Cherry said.

Genesee County treasurer won
 

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Activists are calling for officials to declare a state of emergency in Detroit following the release of a study connecting water shutoffs throughout the city to an uptick in illnesses.

Community organizers in Detroit brought experts together on Wednesday to discuss the research on a panel, while asserting that city health officials have not done enough to address the problem.

“Water-related diseases are now occurring in Detroit as the result of water shutoffs,” said Dr. Wendy Johnson, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington.

“Access to clean and safe water is a basic human right that is essential from a public health standpoint to prevent infectious diseases.


We have run out of time and solutions must be immediate.”

Experts: Water shutoffs causing public health emergency