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Michigan Completes Replacement of Flint’s Lead Water Pipes

Completing Flint’s court-ordered replacements has energized the EPA’s new rule to eliminate lead service lines across the country within ten years.

A copper water supply line, left, after being installed to replace lead piping in Flint, Mich., in 2018.
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(Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images)

Overview

  • State officials reported to a federal court that nearly 11,000 lead service lines in Flint have been replaced and more than 28,000 properties restored under the settlement.
  • Approximately 4,000 lead pipes remain in vacant homes or where residents opted out of the replacements, according to state and advocacy group figures.
  • The milestone fulfills a 2017 Detroit federal court order mandating free pipe replacements, comprehensive water testing and education programs for Flint residents.
  • Public health experts note that close to 100,000 residents were exposed to lead during the crisis, with long-term cognitive and developmental risks still affecting the community.
  • Officials say Flint’s completion provides momentum for the EPA’s rule requiring all U.S. lead service lines to be removed within the next decade.