Congressman Dan Kildee Calls For Additional “Independent and Scientific” Testing to Ensure Safety of Flint’s Water

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today, as part of his continued efforts to get answers regarding recent lead levels recorded in the city of Flint’s water system, met with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Lansing.

The meeting followed a letter sent last week by Congressman Kildee posing various questions about recent lead levels in the water. In response to Congressman Kildee’s letter, the DEQ and EPA invited Congressman Kildee and other local, state and federal elected officials to attend today’s briefing in Lansing.

After the meeting today, Congressman Kildee issued the following statement:

“After meeting with the EPA and DEQ, it is clear to me that immediate independent and scientific testing is necessary to determine the safety of Flint’s water. So far, the city, DEQ and EPA have not adequately answered my questions on their testing methods to ensure the safety of Flint’s water.

“So far, I have been given no reason to have confidence in the current testing results. For example, it is unclear if homes sampled also took part in previous tests, which could have shown trends in water quality.

“I call on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the city of Flint, to work together to conduct additional independent and scientific testing of Flint’s water. Additional testing must be expanded from its current scope to include more homes. It must also factor in the most at-risk homes in Flint.

“Flint residents deserve absolute transparency when it comes to the quality of their water. Additionally the city, DEQ and EPA must work together to ensure the immediate safety of Flint’s drinking water, including any temporary relief until a long-term solution can be completed.”