FLINT, MI - More than 8 percent of homes continue to exceed the federal action guidelines for lead, according to the most-recent round of water sampling data from the state.
Gov. Rick Snyder's office announced Tuesday, March 1, that 37 of the 423 recently-tested sentinel sites had results above the 15 ppb limit. Eight of the samples exceeded 100 ppb.
"There is still a lot of work to do and we will not be satisfied that the water is ready until we see the results of many tests that can ensure the water truly is safe to drink," Snyder said. "That's why we are so appreciative of the residents who are willing to work with us to have their water regularly tested as part of this official scientific survey. By working together, we can help get people the water they need straight from their tap and help the city and its residents move forward."
This was the second set of testing results released from sentinel sites around the city. More than 9 percent of all the homes tested have had results above the 15 ppb limit.
Nearly 90 percent of 175 different samples collected Feb. 10-14 in the city showed less than 15 parts per billion of lead. Five homes exceeded 100 ppb in the testing in the first round of test results released on Feb. 22.
Testing was not limited to homes with lead service lines.
The nearly 600 sentinel sites are locations around the city that will be continually tested to gather scientifically sound data to determine the safety of the city's water.
Testing will continue in two week-intervals for both sets of sites. The next round of testing will combine the two groups of test sites.
The city is in the national spotlight after elevated blood lead levels were discovered in some Flint children after the city changed its water source from Lake Huron water purchased from the Detroit water system to the Flint River in April 2014, a decision made while the city was being run by a state-appointed emergency manager.
State regulators never required that the river water be treated to make it less corrosive, causing lead from plumbing and pipes to leach into the water supply.
Though the city reconnected to the Detroit water system in October, local and state officials have warned pregnant women and young children against using the water unless it has been tested because lead levels continue to exceed what can be handled by a filter.