Officials warned of water, Legionnaires’ link — APNewsBreak

According to the AP, the MI governor’s office knew more than they’ve let on-and were aware of the problems as far back as last March, when his office received an email linking Flint to an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease.

Michigan Democratic party chairman Brandon Dillon called on Snyder to step down, too. The more corrosive water from the river leached more lead from the city pipes than Detroit water did.

“This situation has been explicitly explained to MDEQ and numerous city’s officials”, Henry said in the email that was forwarded by the DEQ to a Snyder aide three days later.

Before it ‘fessed up to not ensuring correct water treatment in October, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality assured the governor’s office and the public the lead issue wasn’t serious.

Snyder acknowledged in January a potential link between the spike in Legionnaires’ disease and the water.

Snyder claimed on January 13 that he had only known about it for a couple of days, but internal emails obtained by Progress Michigan under the Freedom of Information Act suggest he learned of the Legionnaires’ outbreak nearly a year ago.

“Flint residents will not have to pay for water they can not drink”, Snyder said in a statement to the AP late Tuesday.

Flint – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the 9,000 children in Flint under age 6 should have their blood tested for potential lead poisoning after some water tests showed lead levels in the city’s water may exceed the capacity of faucet filters, a federal health official said Thursday. The agency’s director resigned at the end of the year.

The bill, passed unanimously by the Senate a day after Gov. Rick Snyder formally announced the plan, goes to the House for its consideration as early as next week.

“Conclusions that legionella is coming from the public water system without the presentation of any substantiating evidence from your epidemiologic investigation appears premature and prejudice (sic) toward that end”, Busch wrote. She believes the Flint River caused an increase in Genesee County Legionnaires’ cases.

Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia-like illness caused by bacteria that can only infect humans when inhaled in water vapor, not through drinking. The majority of the cases reside or have an association with the city…

On Thursday, Snyder’s office also said the governor has requested an economic disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration for Flint and Genesee County.