City of Flint says water pipe repair to be completed by August after activists demand new deadline
City officials blamed work stoppage and the COVID-19 pandemic for the delays.
Flint resident and water crisis activist Melissa Mays speaks to WDET outside the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in downtown Detroit on Feb. 15, 2023.
Activists tied to the Flint water crisis were back in federal court Wednesday trying to get the city to finish repairing its water infrastructure.
Many Flint residents are still waiting for lead service lines to be replaced, despite a court order to have the work finished three years ago.
Flint resident and activist Melissa Mays says the city is not providing sufficient reasons for the delay.
“We can’t get any answers so hopefully the judge just basically reinforces what was agreed to in 2017,” said Mays.
“For the fifth time we’ve had to hold the city in violation for not following through with the pipe replacement and restoration program that we settled in 2017,” says Mays. “This was supposed to be completed in 2020, but the current administration has put a halt to it and fought us every step of the way.
“We can’t get any answers, so hopefully the judge just basically reinforces what was agreed to in 2017.”
Activists also want the city to provide bottled water to residents while their service lines and galvanized plumbing are replaced. Some residents still have their yards torn up from construction crews making the repairs and upgrades.
Judge David Lawson heard arguments about the case at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in downtown Detroit. Flint officials blame the delay in part on problems with contractors and the COVID-19 pandemic. City lawyers also contend that many residents have not consented to having new pipes installed.
The city of Flint said in a statement that they will have 100% of the work completed by Aug. 1, 2023, and will provide free water filters to residents until one year after work on the water lines is completed. Flint City Council will still need to approve the the proposed changes. The city says that work is 97% complete.
In related news, Flint issued a boil water advisory last week after a water main break, lifting the alert last Monday.
Ed. Note: A previous version said the city aims to have 97% of the work completed by Aug. 1. 97% of lead service lines have already completed.
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