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More free water scheduled for distribution in Flint

FLINT, Mich. (AP) - More jugs of water will be given out next week to Flint residents who are wary of what's coming through their taps as the city transitions to a new municipal water system.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee will partner with community and labor organizations to distribute 2,000 gallons at a local church and United Auto Workers office on Monday, The Flint Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1BEGjzW ).

Flint cut its ties last year with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and is building a line to Lake Huron.

The city currently gets tap water from the Flint River, but residents have complained about the smell, taste and appearance. The federal government has cited Flint for high levels of a disinfectant by-product - a result of treating the water to kill microorganisms that can cause illness.

The city has said the water is safe to drink, though residents with infants, older people and those with severely compromised immune systems should seek advice from a health care provider about drinking the water, the newspaper said.

"Over the past weeks, my office has been in touch with local officials to offer assistance to the city in seeking federal or state support in order to address the ongoing water issue," Kildee, a Flint Township Democrat, said in a news release. "We are also happy to facilitate meetings with federal agencies for technical assistance and to discuss other potential funding sources to make improvements in the water delivery system."

More than 2,000 cases of water were passed out this week in Flint.

"We still had people who wanted water," said Mike Sargent, owner of Sargent Title Co. which facilitated one of the donations.

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Information from: The Flint Journal, http://www.mlive.com/flint

Flint resident Richard Nathaniel hands cases of free water bottles donated by Absopure in light of Flint's recent poor quality and high cost of water to his wife Tina Nathaniel on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in downtown Flint. Volunteers from various local organizations such as Flint Strong, the Flint Neighborhood Association and the East Central Association of Realtors (ECAR) drove to Plymouth to collect the water and then distributed it. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal-MLive.com, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT The Associated Press
East Central Association of Realtors employee Haley Holbrook helps distribute cases of free water bottles donated by Absopure to Flint residents dealing with poor quality and high cost of water, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in downtown Flint. Volunteers from various local organizations such as Flint Strong, the Flint Neighborhood Association and the East Central Association of Realtors (ECAR) drove to Plymouth to collect the water and then distributed it. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal-MLive.com, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT The Associated Press
Flint resident Chauncy Willis carries cases of free water bottles donated by Absopure to his car in response to Flint's recent poor quality and high cost of water on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in downtown Flint. Volunteers from various local organizations such as Flint Strong, the Flint Neighborhood Association and the East Central Association of Realtors (ECAR) drove to Plymouth to collect the water and then distributed it.(AP Photo/The Flint Journal-MLive.com, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT The Associated Press
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