FLINT, MI -- Flint's water system has multiple "significant deficiencies," according to a new violation notice from the state Department of Environmental Quality, the most recent in a string of harsh critiques about the troubled operation.
The weaknesses are detailed in an Aug. 11 letter and notice of violations from a DEQ engineer to City Administer Sylvester Jones, and the most serious problem areas include source water, financial, distribution system, and management and operations.
"The city has failed to select a long-term water supply source ... The city's failure to do so resulted in legal action by the DEQ," a summary of the problems and recommendations says. "The lack of a long-term source agreement has prevented the city from moving forward with several important initiatives, including infrastructure improvements, establishing water rates, securing outside funding for critical projects, ensuring reliable delivery of drinking water, and recruiting/hiring water department staff."
The city also failed to provide details about maintenance and replacement programs and standard operating procedures for hydrants, valves, meters and galvanized service lines, the report says.
City spokeswoman Kristin Moore said many of the "items noted for improvement have been long standing in Flint's water system and were inherited by the current administration."
"However, most of the issues noted are currently in the process of being addressed,' Moore said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal.
It is also important to note that, as stated in the survey, the city still has not approved a long-term primary water source. A number of the issues noted are related to the water source decision," Moore said.
"Mayor Weaver has presented a water source recommendation that would fill the need of not only a primary water source, but a back up water source as well, which the city does not currently have. Approval of the water source recommendation from City Council would address and eliminate many of these issues."
The new report from the state comes on the heels of weeks of pressure from the state and federal governments for the city to upgrade its water system and sign a long-term contract to purchase pre-treated water from the Great Lakes Water Authority.
The City Council has so far refused to approve a new 30-year water contract with the GLWA, and members say they need more information before making such a critical decision.
The delay caused the DEQ to file a lawsuit against the city, claiming the failure to act constitutes a threat to the public's health.
Until earlier this year, the city planned to process raw Lake Huron water at its own treatment plant on Dort Highway, but Weaver shifted her position, campaigning instead for the long-term deal with GLWA.
A consultant hired by the state recommended the long-term water contract, saying it was the safest and least expensive option available to the city, leaving the most money for investing in other areas of the water system.
In addition to the distribution system and source water concerns, the DEQ rated Flint's system management and operations as a significant deficiency. The evaluation did not include an evaluation of the water treatment plan itself.
A report by CDM Smith earlier this year estimated the price for needed upgrades to the treatment plant at $108 million.
"The DEQ does not have confidence that the city can continue to demonstrate the technical, managerial and financial capacity necessary to consistently operate the water system in accordance with the (Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act)," says the letter from Robert A. London, surface water treatment engineer for the DEQ.
The violation notice says the city must take corrective action to fix deficencies within 120 days or have a corrective action plan and schedule approved by the DEQ in that time.