Pro not sure what this complainant is alleging. Do you want Michigan to respond to the allegation that 2
“company or individual durnped millions of gallons of raw sewage into the city of Flint drinking water’ or the
allegation that “they(?) have dumped a potential carcer causing chemical into the city’s drinking water’ or the
allegation that the city of Flint is flushing hydrants end charging customers double? The Office of Drinking
Water and Municipal Assistance cannot adciress the issue surrounding the dumping of raw sewage and we
dort interfere with water rales, bul maybe an explanation of the issues thal have confronted the city of Fint
and their public water supply will help you understand the overall problern.
Last spring, the city of Flint decided to begin relying upon ine Flint River as their source of drinking water using
a treatment plant that was designed to do so. Last summer, they experienced difficulties with stagnation in
some areas of the distribution sysiem due to significantly reduced demands as 2 rasult of the loss of a
significamt percentage of their resiciential and industrial dernancs that accelerated ever the last decade. During
the suramer of 2974, they alse had @ couple of moniloring periods where they detecied total coliform at
monitoring sites in these slagnant areas, and one time they detected E.coli present. The ensuing boll water
advisories and public notification heightened customer concern about the qually of drinking water as a result of
the switch frorn Detroit to the Flint River. Detroit supplied Flint with drinking water frorn Lake Huron, a much
higher quality source than the Flint River. However, rioriionng of ihe Fint water treatment plant tap has never
indicated unacceptable water entering the distribution system. In resporise to these coliform detections and in
an effort to prevent a recurrence, the city also increased flushing water mains in low flow areas and they have
attempted to ensure ihe presence of a chlorine residual throughout the distribution system (is this the “potential
cancer causing chemical ine complainant mentions’).
Compounding the problem of customer confidence was the initial monitoring for disinfection byproducts
conducted by Flint under the Stage 2 DER efter their switch to the Flint River. The Initial monitoring reported
significantly elevated levels of tolal tihalomethane (TTHM) compounds throughout the city’s distribution
system. Our district office advised the city that they needed to immediately implement operational iechniques
at the treaiment plant and in the disiribution systern to reduce the formation of these compounds. The steps
the city of Flint has taken have been successful and nave reduced TTHM concentrations to the point where the
latest results are below the drinking water standard. However, the slencdard is calculated on a running annual
average and itis likely to be anciher 2 to 6 months before the annual average at each monitoring station will
(hopefully) meet the standard. Lint then, the city has te continue to provide quarterly public notification, which
will continue to concem residents despite the latest TTHM results.
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The switch to ihe Flint River, the microbiological problems and the elevated TTHM concentrations expenenced
jest year in Flint have caused a high level of customer dissatisfaction and distrus!, The cily is working diligently
to restore that confidence, but it will not be accomplished easily or overnight. You should also know that the
switch to the Flint River is an interim measure intended to last only unt a 72-inch pipeline from Lake Huron to
the Fini water treatment slant is completed. itis currently under construction and expected to be in operation
in mid-2078. At that point, the city’s drinking water should again be very similar in quality to what they were
receiving from Detroit,
Although the subjeci(s} of this cornplaint are not clear to me, | suspect itis a result of the media coverage of
the recent problemis with the city’s water supply. However, the information frarn your initial contact indicates a
Grand Blanc, Michigan address, which is not in the city of Flint service area. As | mentioned, our Lansing
district office has been dealing with cHy representatives on this issue. If you have further questions, feel free to
coniact sither Michael Prysby or Steve Busch. They are receiving this message so you have their contact
infarrnation. You may also wish to cornmmunicate with your Region S counterparts in the Office of Drinking
Water & Ground Water, Jennifer Cracks or Tom Pay, who have raceived similar complaints and with whom we
have communicaied requiarly on these issues.
Please let us know if someone frorn EPA will respond to the complainant, or if you expect Michigan DEQ to do
80,
Richard Benzie, P.b., Chief
Field Cperations Section
Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ
547-284-8512