FLINT, Mich. – Community Water Resource Sites are open in all nine city wards and ready to serve Flint water system customers with bottled water, water filters, replacement cartridges and at-home water testing kits after the presidential emergency declaration ends on Aug. 14, according to the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD).
“Throughout the Flint water emergency, the state of Michigan has been providing Flint residents with the water supplies they need to have safe, clean drinking water,” said Capt. Chris Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. “All water resource sites will be open and ready as usual when the presidential declaration ends. Until the water meets quality standards, we will provide water supplies to Flint water system customers at the water resource sites.”
Under the presidential declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been providing water resource assistance under a 75 percent federal and 25 percent state cost sharing agreement. After Aug. 14, the state of Michigan will be responsible for 100 percent of the total cost of water supply purchases.
Aside from the state of Michigan taking on additional costs, Flint residents will not notice any loss of water emergency services. All other federal and state programs and services supporting the Flint response will continue as well.
To obtain water supplies or recycle water bottles and used cartridges, please visit any one of following nine locations:
- Ross Plaza, 2320 W. Pierson Road (Ward 1)
- St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 3020 DuPont St. (Ward 2)
- Universal Systems, 1401 E. Stewart Ave. (Ward 3)
- Franklin Avenue Lot, 2804 N. Franklin Ave. (Ward 4)
- Old Flint Farmers’ Market, 420 E. Boulevard Drive (Ward 5)
- West Court Street Church of God, 2920 W. Court St. (Ward 6)
- Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, 3501 Lapeer Road (Ward 7)
- Lincoln Park United Methodist Church, 3410 Fenton Road (Ward 8)
- Eastown Bowling Alley, 3001 S. Dort Highway (Ward 9)
The hours of operations for these community sites are:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday: Noon – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday and Friday: Noon – 8 p.m.
Since Jan. 9, through Water Response Teams and Water Resource Sites, more than 2.2 million cases of bottled water; more than 130,200 water filters; more than 287,000 replacement cartridges; and more than 52,600 at-home water testing kits have been distributed to Flint water system customers.
Under a consensus of local, state, federal and outside experts, water filters are effective in removing lead from water. All populations may consume filtered water, including pregnant women and children under 6. Residents are encouraged to use their water as much as possible to prevent standing water and to reduce the risk of contaminants in the system.
At-home water testing kits can be dropped off at any Community Water Resource Site or Flint City Hall, located at 1101 Saginaw St. The Flint Water Plant is no longer accepting the water samples. Residents who are homebound or have access and functional needs can call United Way 2-1-1 to have water test kits delivered or picked up.
Additional information is available at michigan.gov/flintwater, by calling United Way 211 or visiting helpforflint.com. For information about Medicaid eligibility visit michigan.gov/mibridges or call the Michigan Health Care Help Line, 1-855-789-5610, TTY 1-866-501-5656.
The State of Michigan continues to coordinate response efforts in partnership with federal agencies, the city of Flint, Genesee County and local community organizations.
