Water From Tap Still Undrinkable In Flint But Other Benchmarks Being Met

DETROIT (WWJ) - One of the nation's leading water supply experts said Tuesday that the water in Flint is getting better and people can now use what's coming out of the faucet for showering and bathing but cautions it's not for drinking.

Virginia Tech Engineering Professor Marc Edwards is leading the team studying and testing the water:

"Flint water looks like it has very relatively low-level of disinfection by-products -- it's no worse than any other city, and in many ways it's better," said Edwards.

Ongoing efforts to flush the system are working says Edwards, but adds that the water is still not drinkable from the tap.

He says all parties will have to agree that Flint is meeting the same lead standards as other cities.

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"I'm pretty hopeful that in the next six months, you'll be in a range where, it could very well happen -- that Flint is meeting the lead level and right now, Flint is meeting all other state standards for safe water except for lead.

Edwards and other experts say by-products from disinfecting agents used to flush the system like chlorine are at normal levels in Flint.

Health officials say a filter should still be used for drinking and food preparation.

Flint pulled water from the Flint River for 18 months until last fall but didn't add corrosion-control treatments that could have prevented lead from leaching out of old plumbing.