Congressmen request information on Flint’s water supply in letter to McCarthy

A bipartisan group of Congressmen have requested information on Flint, Michigan’s, drinking water in a recent letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy.

“Over the last several months, this issue has received significant public attention,” said the letter. “According to press reports, residents began complaining that their drinking water looked and tasted bad, and was causing rashes after the city switched from water provided by the Detroit water system to water treated by Flint and sourced from the Flint River in April 2014 to save money.”

Reports indicate that the city’s current water supply contains contaminants that pose a risk to public health, potentially damaging the liver, kidney and nervous system and causing an increased risk of cancer.

“It is our understanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a Safe Drinking Water Task Force to provide assistance to Flint and has announced plans to audit Michigan’s Drinking Water Program,” said the letter. “We urgently request a briefing on these matters and on EPA’s anticipated role as the situation in Flint continues to unfold.”

The letters signatories include: U.S. Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), John Shimkus (R-IL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Tim Murphy (R-PA), Diana DeGette (D-CO, Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Gene Green (D-TX).