City of Flint under boil water advisory

Editor’s Note: This story is ongoing and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

Flint, MI, 3:00 p.m.—In an update to an earlier citywide boil water advisory, city officials say that while the cause of the water main break has not been identified, crews are working to repair the issue and the advisory will likely remain in place until at least Monday, Feb. 13, 2023.

“A 24 inch water main line near the Cedar Street reservoir failed this morning, causing a drop in water pressure throughout the city of Flint,” explained Mike Brown, Flint’s Department of Public Works director. “The entire city of Flint remains under a boiled filtered water advisory.”

What that means, Brown explained, is that residents should filter cold water, then boil that water before use, and replace their [filter] cartridge when the advisory is lifted.

“The city crews have isolated the break and are working continuously to repair the transmission line that broke,” Brown continued. “We have increased the amount of water that we’re receiving from the Great Lakes Water Authority and GCDC, or the Genesee County Drain Commission, to maintain water service in the city.”

Brown noted, however, that water pressure may continue to fluctuate as crews work to fix the issue.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley added that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has already been made aware of the situation, and Flint will be completing water tests before lifting the citywide boil water advisory. He estimated that means the advisory could be in place until Monday, Feb. 13.

“We’re estimating right now if everything goes well, by Monday we’ll be all clear with this,” Neeley said, adding that the repair is currently underway.

“The city will be going out and taking samples throughout the system for the next couple of days,” Brown elaborated. “We’ll then plant those and look for bacterial, any kind of bacterial contamination, and as long as they [the tests] come out good, then we’ll go out do it again in different areas, making sure that we go and we have two full days of of zero bacterial samples. Then we can state that our system is ready to go.”

In the meantime, free water filter units and replacement cartridges are available for city of Flint residents at Flint City Hall, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also pick up free water testing kits at the same location to test for lead and for copper.

10:50 a.m.—Residents citywide are advised to boil water for drinking and cooking due to a major water main break on Cedar Street, near the Shelter of Flint.

According to a City of Flint Press release, locations throughout the city may experience low water pressure.

The City of Flint Water Department has identified the source of the break and is asking residents to please avoid the Cedar Street area while crews work to restore water service.

10:12 a.m.—According to a City of Flint press release, the city’s water department is working to identify the source of a major water main break affecting large portions of the city of Flint.

Locations throughout the city may experience low water pressure.