6 Cities In Michigan Have Even Higher Levels Of Lead Than Flint

Zero Hedge ^ | 01/29/2016 | Submitted by Carey Wedler via TheAntiMedia.org,

[vette6387]

“Filters for lead are available but do require periodic replacement. They could be installed cheaper than replacing pipes.”

Or at least provide an interim solution! Here where we live in Northern California, our water district has started “adding in large quantities” of Sacramento River water due to the draught. We’ve started filtering what we drink because the water smells and we know that as a government agency, the district probably will probably lie about what’s in it as a matter of convenience, or just plain ignorance. But at least we know that our pipes are not lead. Everything underground here is plastic and the house is all copper-piped.

[vette6387]

“The cost of replacing every individual line would be insane.”

So killing off the people is a viable alternative?

[DoughtyOne]

[SunTzuWu]

Most bottled water is sourced from municipal water supplies. Read the bottle.

[Gunpowder green]

The government has raised all kinds of trouble about lead paint, yet the whole time lead pipes were being used in the same houses.

Wait for it, now we’ll see all sorts of lawsuits, regulations, classes for safe removal, etc etc.

Instead of investing in productive resources, now we’ll sink loads of cash into retro-fitting sub-standard housing.

[equaviator]

“Read the bottle.”

Anyone who’d like to do that shouldn’t have any trouble find an empty water bottle in Flint.

[driftdiver]

There are technologies available which can resurface the inside of existing pipes without replacing them.

[Jimmy Valentine]

For DC Freepers, in the older homes in the City, the feed pipes running out to the water mains were lead also. I did a lot of renovation lending in the City over 43 years and saw this a lot.

[vetvetdoug]

The Mayor of Flint is an affirmative action graduate of an all black Mississippi college. Race of professional victims are taught their trade at these.

[PA Engineer]

Caulking on old cast iron DWV pipe, yes.

Agreed. Very old cast iron bell and spigot pipes used lead caulking at the joints (or simply lead joints).

In my younger (engineering) days we warned about this issue. This was in many cities and we received incredible pushback from trade organizations and municipal governments. We were also threatened with litigation by both a trade industry group and an eastern city government. We did not retract our work, however it was buried. I remember it well and it was very stressful period of my life.

The problem has been well known for some time and that would go back as far as 1917 when successful experiments were conducted by replacing lead with cement joints.

The problem in Flint became worse when they switched suppliers from Detroit to the Flint River to save money. They did not conduct even a minimal engineering study on the effects to their distribution system. The water was acidic and they turned a potentially bad lead problem into a disaster.

The worst part is they patted themselves on the back for saving a couple of million dollars. A small engineering study under 100K would have revealed the danger of changing water suppliers to the distribution system and the health of the people.

This is a level of incompetence and corruption that is very common in our country.

[cyclotic]

My questions: Where are the control samples of kids tested before this problem occurred with the river water?

What are the lead levels in PPM vs kids not in Flint.

Are the FDA Allowable limits of lead in blood reasonable and scientifically derived or emotionally?

How did people not die in droves when these pipes were new? I assume the calcification of the pipes took decades to form

[exnavy]

So that’s what’s wrong with me!!!

[BlueLancer]

"Flint and Saginaw?"

Well, I knew those kids weren't quite right when we played football against them in high school. And watching their marching bands meander around the field was a little bit like watching a drunk/doped-up Stanford JV band...

[clearcarbon]

"Are the FDA Allowable limits of lead in blood reasonable and scientifically derived or emotionally? How did people not die in droves when these pipes were new? I assume the calcification of the pipes took decades to form"

What happens if all those lead exposed kids suddenly start learning at an accelerated rate and take increased interest in civic pride and responsibility?

[cyclotic]

It’ll still be the republicans fault.

[MarMema]

... Sebring, Ohio....well buckeyes.