Free bottled water goes fast in Flint amid tap water woes
FLINT, Mich. (AP) - Flint residents have been quick to take advantage of a bottled water giveaway program, the latest response to persistent quality problems during the transition to a new municipal water system.
Michigan Radio (http://bit.ly/1Dbqyjy ) says it took about half an hour Wednesday morning for volunteers to give out about 200 cases of bottled water.
Mike Sargent of the group Flint Strong says it's a Band Aid but better than nothing.
Flint switched off its pipeline from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department in the spring and has been getting its tap water from the Flint River.
Residents have complained about the smell, and the federal government has cited Flint for high levels of a disinfectant by-product.
The city says the water is safe. It's building a line to Lake Huron.
___
Information from: WUOM-FM, http://www.wuom.org
Flint resident Renee Sloma, right, carries cases of free water bottles donated by Absopure to her car in light of Flint's 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 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
Residents wait in line as cases of free water bottles are distributed to Flint residents dealing with poor quality and high cost of water on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 on S. Grand Traverse St. outside of Sargent's Title Co. 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
Antoine Shelby restocks water bottles in Kroger, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in Flint, Mich. Mott Community College officials said they will continue doing their own water testing as Flint deals with fixing its drinking water distribution and treatment systems. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT
The Associated Press
Antoine Shelby restocks water bottles in Kroger, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in Flint, Mich. Mott Community College officials said they will continue doing their own water testing as Flint deals with fixing its drinking water distribution and treatment systems. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT
The Associated Press
This photo shows water bottles in Kroger, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in Flint, Mich. Mott Community College officials said they will continue doing their own water testing as Flint deals with fixing its drinking water distribution and treatment systems. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT
The Associated Press
Flint resident Miesha Woodley, 13, grabs a case of water in Kroger, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in Flint, Mich. Mott Community College officials said they will continue doing their own water testing as Flint deals with fixing its drinking water distribution and treatment systems. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT
The Associated Press
Antoine Shelby restocks water bottles in Kroger, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in Flint, Mich. Mott Community College officials said they will continue doing their own water testing as Flint deals with fixing its drinking water distribution and treatment systems. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Erin Kirkland) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.