Flint, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says he doesn't want to rush into pulling out service lines in Flint before an infrastructure study can be done.
“We need to understand where the lead service lines are, what the nature of the project is to take them out and have them replaced. That’s where it’s important to have outside expertise,” Snyder said. “We think there’s about 10,000 service lines we don’t know their composition.”
The state is working with engineering firm Rowe Professional Services, of Flint, to do an analysis of water pipes in the city.
"This is a step forward to the next stage of the plan to say, 'Let's understand the system, let's understand the pipes. And let's look forward to a system of how to get them appropriately replaced in a safe fashion with prioritizing the most dangerous first," Snyder said.
Snyder said Rowe's timeline for the study is a month.
"We're continuing to monitor test results that residents are submitting, and continuing with bottled water and filters," Snyder said.
Retired National Guard Brig. General Michael McDaniel is assisting in coordinating the efforts between the city of Flint, the Lansing Board of Water and Light, state and federal agencies and other stakeholders, according to Snyder's office.