We Must Keep Protecting Ourselves from Flint’s Aging Drinking Water System

This statement was authored by Melissa Mays of Water You Fighting For and Pastor Allen C. Overton of the Concerned Pastors for Social Action were plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit that resulted in a settlement requiring Flint officials to replace lead water pipes and restore property that was damaged in the process. 

The recent good news that the legal battle to replace Flint, Michigan’s lead water pipes is complete has given some people the idea that Flint’s drinking water is completely fixed. Unfortunately, that is not the case.  

While Flint residents have secured an important, historic win that led to the city government checking more than 28,000 pipes and replacing nearly 11,000 lead and galvanized steel water pipes, we must keep taking steps to protect ourselves from Flint’s aging drinking water system and the small number of lead pipes that remain in the ground. 

Our message to the Flint community is to stay safe. Stay safe by taking steps to filter your water. Stay safe by pushing Flint’s mayor and the state to expedite action to get the remaining lead pipes out, which is now required under both city and Michigan law. The city has the goal of completing that work, at no cost to residents, by the end of 2025. 

Here are action steps you can take today: 

• Get your pipe checked.  

We encourage residents who still want their pipe checked to contact the city (810-410-1133; GetTheLeadOut@cityofflint.com)

• If you’re not sure if you have a lead service line:
  • Check the Flint Service Line map.
  • Check inventory at the city of Flint's Progress Report on Flint Water webpage.

  • Give us your address, and we’ll follow up with you. We can check the info we receive from the city.

    EMAIL US

• If you need a water filter or tap water test kit, visit Flint City Hall.

The lead pipe settlement remains in force until next spring. Until March 2026, the state must continue providing free water filter units and filter replacement cartridges to residents. Pick those up at Flint City Hall, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Residents can also pick up tap water test kits at the same location until March 2026. Results of tap water kits must also be published online by the state. In addition, the city and state must continue to monitor the water system for lead every six months.  

The people of Flint changed America by holding the city and state accountable for a cost-saving decision that led to a massive lead contamination crisis. For more than 10 years, Flint residents endured broken promises as the city repeatedly failed to meet court deadlines to remove wrecked lead water pipes. The Flint experience led the federal government to agree that no other community in America should ever face what the people of Flint have faced and lived with for so many years. The Flint community has a lot to be proud of.   

Winning the win is hard. We all wish the water crisis was behind us. But we are not yet done. Keep filtering your water. Stay safe. Let’s make sure the city gets every lead water pipe out of the ground. We still care about our Flint community and want to rebuild our city to be a place where children can thrive and people can live their dreams.