FLINT, Mich. — Jeffrey Bell has closely monitored the progress as crews diligently excavate and replace the lead water pipes in the homes of his neighbors, hopeful that his mother’s residence will be addressed soon. However, workers informed him that the house was not listed for the current contractor but could be under another team’s jurisdiction.
With Flint’s lead pipe replacement initiative coming to a close this year, Bell and his aging mother are anxious that their home might have been overlooked. Betty Bell has consistently contacted city officials while continuing to rely on bottled drinking water, a practice she has adhered to for several years. At last, she was informed that their water line had been checked and deemed acceptable based on records from 2017. The Bells were previously unaware of this, showcasing broader resident confusion stemming from delays and inadequate communication throughout this process.
“It leaves me with more questions,” Jeffrey Bell expressed.
After nearly ten years since Flint’s water debacle drew widespread national attention, the replacement of lead water pipes is still incomplete. Recently, officials stated that the city has finished the tasks required by a legal settlement; however, the agreement excluded vacant homes and allowed homeowners to refuse replacements, potentially resulting in hundreds of remaining lead pipes. The state has committed to managing the replacement in those properties, endeavoring to complete the process by fall.
Flint’s complications serve as a critical learning point for other municipalities, especially as they face federal pressure to replace their lead service lines. With changes to administration policies expected, many towns are looking to avoid Flint’s fate.
“Cities are striving not to replicate Flint’s experience,” noted Margie Kelly, representing the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, which had reached a settlement mandating the replacement of Flint’s lead pipes.
Flint’s crisis originated in 2014, following a decision by a state-appointed emergency manager to terminate Detroit’s water service, opting instead for Flint River water to save money. This transition occurred without the necessary corrosion control, leading to lead contamination.
The crisis revealed heightened lead levels in water and the blood of children, with several deadly outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the city’s water supply. In response, a legal settlement in 2017 obligated Flint to replace all lead pipes promptly, also guaranteeing the restoration of disturbed yards at no cost. Notably, the first funds were designated for homes with known lead lines, complicating systematic neighborhood improvements due to the piecemeal approach necessitated by deficient and outdated records.
Sarah Tallman, a spokesperson for the Natural Resources Defense Council, described the city’s management of the replacement program as ineffective, suggesting coordinated work could have enhanced efficiency. The program faced further delays as it required systematic checks of all pipes, complications exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Flint’s Public Works Director, Kenneth Miller, joined the effort last year, acknowledging challenges in tracking homeowner participation and identifying properties omitted during previous contractor transitions.
“To improve moving forward, sound data management is essential,” Miller advised communities embarking on similar lead line replacement efforts, referencing Flint’s currently more robust system.
Notably, Flint’s population decline resulted in numerous vacant homes requiring contractors to seal existing lead lines effectively. Eric Oswald from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy affirmed the state’s commitment to leaving no avenue unexplored in Flint.
The scandal left a trail of diminished trust in government entities since a scathing inspection by the EPA cited negligence at multiple levels, contributing to the crisis. This erosion of trust resulted in nearly 700 homeowners declining what’s perceived as free lead pipe replacements.
Efforts to restore trust included introducing a local ordinance preventing opt-out from replacements, a tactic seen as instrumental by neighboring Benton Harbor in avoiding similar issues. Now, officials have compiled a list of over 4,000 potential properties with lead lines and are conducting outreach to urge cooperation and foster an image of renewed customer focus.
Despite assurances from the Environmental Protection Agency that Flint’s water is now safe — corroborated by significantly lower lead levels — skepticism remains high. Some residents continue to doubt governmental claims about water safety, rooted in years of misinformation.
As similar initiatives begin elsewhere across America — where millions of lead pipes remain — experts emphasize the importance of maintaining community trust. Digging up lead lines is not only about infrastructure but crucially about community engagement and confidence in local authorities.
Newark, New Jersey, presents a contrasting narrative to Flint’s history, handling its lead crisis with decisive action. By committing to replace over 20,000 lead pipes at no cost to residents, the city crafted effective policies, like allowing tenant approval for work, to address challenges posed by absent property owners. They were driven by an urgency that contrasted Flint’s drawn-out process, ultimately ensuring swift progress and satisfactory cleanup, pleasing residents.