EPA lifts emergency order on Flint water, returning city to normal lead testing standards
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday, May 19, that a nearly decade-old emergency order on the city of Flint's drinking water standards had been lifted. After the EPA took over water sampling responsibility in Flint in 2016 after the onset of the water crisis, the agency says the city has reached compliance with federal requirements for lead-level standards.
In a statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the lifting of the emergency order a major milestone for the city and federal partners. The federal government "will remain a partner to provide technical assistance to the city and state as efforts continue to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure systems,' Zeldin said in a statement.
"Lifting this emergency order is a cause for great celebration for residents of Flint who worked so hard and sacrifice so much to get to this point," said Zeldin. "Even though the emergency order is lifted, all levels of government must continue to stay in contact and work closely to be a continued resource for the Flint community and ensure their water remains pristine."
The Flint water crisis began in 2014, when the city, while under emergency management from the state, switched water sources from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure. State officials overseeing the switch failed to ensure corrosion-control measures were taken for the more acidic river water. Lead, a neurotoxin particularly dangerous to children, leached from aged service lines into the city's water supply as a result. As the city struggled with water quality, it also saw an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, leading to the deaths of at least 12 people and sickening dozens more.
More: Left feeling abandoned, Flint residents still worry about health effects of water crisis
Today, the EPA states 97% of lead service lines have been replaced, although last year a federal judge held the city of Flint in contempt over taking too long to replace some remaining lead pipes.
With the emergency order being lifted, Flint's drinking water safety will have to comply with regular Safe Drinking Water Act standards, which are overseen by the state. The Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment (EGLE) said in August the city's drinking water tests have returned lead and copper levels considered compliant with normal federal standards for 17 consecutive monitoring periods. The EPA emergency standards were stricter than regular standards.
'The lifting of the EPA's emergency order is a powerful testament to the strength, and advocacy of Flint residents,' Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said in a statement provided by the EPA. 'For nearly a decade, we have worked tirelessly to restore trust and integrity to our water system, as well as meeting rigorous standards."
More: 'It's just devastating': Flint reels as water crisis prosecution comes to an end
While there were criminal indictments of former state officials, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, over their handling of the water crisis, those cases were tossed last year after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled state prosecutors incorrectly used a one-man grand jury to indict the officials.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flint water crisis: EPA lifts emergency order on lead testing levels
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Magazine
15 hours ago
- Time Magazine
As Fluoride Bans Spread, Who Will Be Hit the Hardest?
Cavities and dental costs are at risk of skyrocketing as a growing number of states consider banning the use of fluoride in public water —and children from low-income households are likely most vulnerable. In March, Utah became the first state to prohibit adding fluoride to drinking water. A couple months later, Florida followed suit. Several other states are now considering similar bills. In a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum, researchers projected what would happen if the entire country were to stop adding fluoride to the water supply. The potential impact on both people's oral health and their dental bills was substantial: Tooth decay, the study found, would increase by about 7.5%—representing about 25 million more cavities—and the U.S. would face about $9.8 billion in additional costs over five years, including both what families would have to pay out-of-pocket for dental care and what the government would need to pay for public health insurance. And those impacts would disproportionately affect children on public insurance plans or without insurance, the researchers found. Fluoridated water is 'an amazing public health intervention that comes straight from the tap,' says the senior author of the study, Dr. Lisa Simon, an internal medicine physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who is also a general dentist. 'Fluoride works for everyone—it benefits adults, it benefits children,' Simon says. 'But the people who derive the most benefit from it are people who have a harder time accessing routine dental care.' 'Unfortunately, in our country, that is more likely to be children and families who are low-income, who rely on public insurance, or who otherwise face challenges in getting to a dentist,' she says. States' moves to ban the use of fluoride in public drinking water come as the Trump Administration—due in large part to the influence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—has pushed back against the practice. Kennedy has long blasted water fluoridation, claiming it is linked to arthritis, bone cancer, IQ loss, and more, and signaled that HHS will stop recommending it. The Environmental Protection Agency has said that it is studying the potential health risks of fluoride, and the Food and Drug Administration said it is taking steps to remove prescription ingestible fluoride supplements for children from the market. Some research suggests that fluoride could be associated with lower IQ scores, but only at significantly high levels of exposure—the amount of fluoride that is added to public water, based on federal guidelines, is far lower. And the majority of public health experts, pediatricians, and dentists insist that water fluoridation is a long-standing practice that is both safe and effective at protecting oral health and fighting cavities and tooth decay. 'It's been touted to be one of the most successful or greatest public health initiatives, right up there with vaccinations,' says Dr. Tomitra Latimer, a pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. U.S. localities started adding fluoride to public water in 1945, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has credited the public health initiative for the 'dramatic decline in cavities' in the country in the years since. According to the CDC, drinking fluoridated water reduces cavities by roughly 25% in both children and adults. Tooth decay, though preventable, is one of the most common childhood diseases. And children of color, children who come from low-income households, children on public insurance plans that limit which providers they can see, and children who live in rural areas and have to travel long distances to access care—all of them are at greater risk of developing cavities, according to Latimer. Children with autism also tend to have a heightened risk of developing cavities because they may struggle with brushing their teeth regularly, she says. While there are alternative sources of fluoride that people can purchase, the cost may be out of reach for many families, Latimer says. That's why, she says, fluoridated water is so critical: It's an easily accessible tool that can help protect the oral health of children who are most vulnerable to cavities. And for generations, it's flowed straight from the tap.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Popular U.S. Destination Has the First Confirmed Zika Virus Case in 6 Years—What Travelers Should Know
A case of travel-related Zika virus has been detected on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The virus didn't originate in Hawaii, but was brought there by an infected traveler. However, Zika could spread if that person is bitten by a mosquito that continues biting others. Two additional suspected exposures to Zika are being monitored by Oahu health you're headed to Oahu this summer, be aware that a mosquito-borne menace is back on the island. For the first time since 2019, Zika virus has been detected on Oahu, with the Hawaii Department of Health confirming one case. There are also two other suspected exposures to the Zika virus. The one case of Zika was imported into Hawaii by a traveler and did not originate on the island. It is not endemic in Hawaii. However, the virus is capable of spreading from an infected person, to a mosquito, and on to another person. Hawaii does have the type of mosquitos that can spread Zika, but the virus is not established in the state. 'The DOH asks for support in reducing the potential for the spread of Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes. Vector control teams are responding and will continue operations in areas where the individuals spent time, including neighborhoods in Waialua/Haleʻiwa area on Oʻahu,' the Hawaii Department of Heath said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. 'DOH will continue to monitor mosquito activity in the affected areas and implement further control measures as needed.' Symptoms of Zika virus can include fever, rash, headache, joint pain, and pink eye. However, about 80 percent of Zika cases are asymptomatic, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. The virus is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can be passed to their fetus and cause serious birth defects and pregnancy complications. Zika is mostly spread by mosquitos who have already bitten someone infected with Zika. It can also be spread through sexual contact. Other less common but possible means of transmission are infected blood transfusions, infected organ transplants, breastfeeding, or occupational exposure in healthcare settings. The Department of Health is encouraging both visitors and residents to take measures to prevent the spread of Zika by applying EPA-approved insect repellent on exposed skin, keeping mosquitos out of buildings by making sure doors close properly, wearing loose-fitting clothing, and removing standing water around buildings that can become a breeding ground for mosquitos. 'Travelers should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites during their trips, and for three weeks after returning,' the statement from the DOH states. 'Travelers returning from an area with risk of Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks after their return. Anyone experiencing symptoms within two weeks after visiting an area with risk of Zika should consult a health care provider and inform them of possible exposure in a Zika-affected area. Testing is not routinely recommended for travelers who do not have symptoms.' Oahu is the third largest of Hawaii's islands, and contains the capital of Honolulu. It's world-famous for its pristine beaches (including Waikiki Beach), luxury hotels, and excellent surfing opportunities. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
New York Times
19 hours ago
- New York Times
After Years of Research as Wirecutter's Water-Quality Expert, I Decided I Don't Need to Filter My Water
Like Jan, reader Graeme got his water tested after I suggested doing that before buying a different, clog-resistant filter. He later sent a quick update: 'It came back completely clear. You've saved me tons of time and money. NYC water continues to astound …' It does. New York's water is justifiably famous for its purity, and the city has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep it that way. But it isn't the only city that can boast such a thing. Consult your utility's Consumer Confidence Report. Here's New York City's latest. Here's Los Angeles's report. Here are Chicago's, Houston's, and Philadelphia's. You can usually find your CCR on your utility's website; the EPA can help you find your utility if you're unsure. (CCRs for the prior year are released as late as July 1, so you may find that yours is from two calendar years ago.) A few terms to know: MCLG is the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. It isn't a requirement, but a level that the EPA or a state agency hopes to eventually achieve. MCL is the Maximum Contaminant Level that's allowed by federal or state law. (And that brings up an important side point: under the Safe Drinking Water Act, states can set water-quality standards that are stricter than the federal ones. Several states were ahead of the EPA on PFAS limits before the Biden administration tightened the federal standards in 2024, for example. That's worth remembering now that the Trump administration has rescinded or relaxed several of the standards and enforcement deadlines.) THMs are trihalomethanes, and are mainly the by-product of disinfectants that are used to reduce bacteria and other pathogens in the water supply. Almost everybody's CCR shows their presence at some level. How much is allowed is defined by the MRDL, the Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level; how much is aimed for is the MRDLG, the Goal. Most other listings are fairly self-explanatory: lead, mercury, and so on. To know even more, use a home water test kit. It will tell you exactly what's in your water, right where it comes out of your faucet. We recommend several Tap Score kits from SimpleLab, both for their ease of use — they come with prepaid and labeled packaging to help you ship your samples to the lab quickly — and for their clarity. The company explains the test results in plain language, flags anything of concern, and has support staff available to answer any questions you have. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter This send-away kit delivers lab-tested measurements of more than 100 contaminants, and it explains what they mean and what to do if there's a problem. I spoke with SimpleLab founder and CEO Johnny H. Pujol to understand what he has learned from a decade of water testing. He also shared a detailed summary of the data the company has collected. A lot of people ask about PFAS and microplastics, Pujol said, 'but the likelihood is that you're going to spend a ton of money [on a test kit], and you may not find something that useful or interesting to your home.' (Testing for PFAS and microplastics requires two Tap Score kits in addition to the Advanced City kit that's our top pick; they cost between $300 and $795.) No PFAS chemicals are among the 10 most common contaminants that SimpleLab finds in either public ('city') or private well water, according to the data Pujol shared. Two trihalomethanes — specifically chloroform and bromodichloromethane, both by-products of disinfection at the treatment plant — are among the top 10 in public water. Substances that come from the earth itself — zinc, barium, strontium, and sulfates — are in the top 10 in both city and well water. So is copper, leached from pipes in the home. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup and many other trademarked herbicides, shows up so rarely that when it does, Pujol said, 'our data science team sends a message out — hey, we found a detection.' And no PFAS are among the top 10 exceedances — instances where the level detected exceeded the company's in-house health-guidance levels, which are based on EPA and other health-agency benchmarks. Chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and dibromochloromethane, all disinfection by-products, are the top three exceedances in public water supplies. Lead and arsenic are numbers four and five. For private wells, they are numbers one and two. In terms of overall public health, Pujol worries that forever chemicals are drawing people's focus away from where it is needed more urgently. 'Here you've got a concentration that is almost comically low that gets widespread fear and interest — that's PFAS,' he said. "Whereas the classics — arsenic, radon, lead, nitrate — they don't seem to get the attention they deserve, and they're much more significant.' I didn't know all of this before I got my water tested, but I knew enough about the US water system, and about my utility's Consumer Confidence Reports, that I was confident the results would be fine. Still, I got that little fist of nerves. Having been president of my co-op in Queens, I was well aware that lead was likely to be present in the plumbing solder. And in New Jersey, there's a chrome-plating shop — almost certainly a source of hexavalent chromium and other nasty stuff — a block and a half away from my house. Sure, it's downhill, and sure, my water comes from a reservoir several miles in the other direction, and sure, the CCR showed nothing of concern. But. So it was reassuring to get the results I expected.
