E.P.A. Response Activities - Update 1/27/16

FLINT, MICH. -- E.P.A. continues to work with drinking water system operators at the city of Flint treatment plant. EPA's response team includes 29 response personnel, scientists, water quality experts, community involvement coordinators and other support staff.

E.P.A. is collecting chlorine samples at locations throughout the city of Flint drinking water system, with a focus on locations that would be the most likely to have lower chlorine levels. E.P.A. will continue to collect samples to ensure that chlorine concentrations in the system are sufficient. Last week, E.P.A. issued a Safe Drinking Water Act Emergency Order to ensure the state and city immediately take actions necessary to protect public health. The Safe Drinking Water Act Emergency Order requires the State of Michigan and City of Flint to take a series of immediate steps to address the drinking water contamination in Flint.

E.P.A. will begin collecting drinking water samples from homeowner drinking water systems of Flint residents to better understand the types of plumbing materials that are of greatest concern for lead in the city's drinking water and to ensure that corrosion control is being restored in the drinking water system. E.P.A. community involvement and sampling teams continue to meet with residents to explain the sampling process and answer questions. At the same time, E.P.A. will also inspect the drinking water systems to determine the presence or absence of lead service lines in the water distribution system as it prepares for additional residential sampling.

Samples will be sent to an E.P.A. independent lab for analysis and the quality assured results of the all the samples collected by E.P.A. will be shared with individual homeowners and will be posted on EPA's website. E.P.A. will ensure removal of any personal information from the quality assured results and will post data as soon as it becomes accessible to EPA. Quality assured results are typically accessible in less than 30 days.

E.P.A. recommends that residents continue to use filters or drink bottled water and if necessary, contact their local health provider to have themselves or their children tested for lead. E.P.A. will continue to work with the City of Flint to monitor drinking water quality and to ensure the public is receiving up to date information.

E.P.A. information is accessible at www.epa.gov/flint and Spanish language information is being provided online.

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