Flint to Move Forward with KWA as Permanent Water Source
In a press conference this morning, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver announced the city will move forward with the KWA as its permanent water source.
Weaver had been re-evaluating the decision to join the KWA over the past few months saying others had made that decision. The city was under the control of the state and an emergency manager when the decision was made to join the KWA after decades with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The move was made as a cost saving measure after years of price increases from Detroit. After the city announced the future move to the KWA, the DWSD sent a termination notice to Flint and the city was forced to use the Flint River as a temporary water source. When necessary corrosion controls weren't added, lead began to leach from pipes causing the current crisis.
Weaver was joined at the news conference by Gov. Rick Snyder and Genesee County Board of Commisioners Chair Jaime Curtis. Genesee County will pay $3 million for a three-mile pipeline needed. The state will also chip in $4.2 million for the city to connect with the KWA water source. According to WNEM, the city will gets its water from the KWA as soon as its ready.