FLINT, MI - City residents will continue to have access to bottled water and filters after a presidential emergency declaration ends in mid-August.
Officials announced Thursday, June 2, that the state would begin picking up the entire cost of bottled water, filter cartridges and in-home testing kits after the federal declaration ends on Aug. 14.
Currently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been providing 75 percent of the funding needed for supplies to ensure residents have access to clean drinking water. The state is providing 25 percent of the costs.
However, the state will be on the hook for the entire cost of supplies after the federal emergency declaration expires.
"August 14 is just a date on the calendar, and as Gov. (Rick) Snyder has said, we will make decisions based on science, not arbitrary dates," said Capt. Chris Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. "The State of Michigan's mission will continue to ensure Flint residents have access to safe, clean drinking water. Until the water meets quality standards, we will provide water supplies to Flint water system customers at the water resource sites."
FEMA announced in March that it would extend the declaration until August. President Barack Obama initially signed the emergency declaration in January.
Officials still have not provided a timeline as to when the city's water will be safe to drink without a filter. However, researchers have said they are observing improvements in the city's water quality.