EPA Lifts Flint Water Emergency Order After Nine Years

The EPA has officially lifted the emergency order on Flint's water system, which had been in place since 2016 following the Flint Water Crisis, after the city met all Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and consistently tested below lead action levels. Over 97% of Flint's lead service lines have been replaced, signaling significant infrastructure improvements. Despite these developments, many Flint residents remain skeptical about the safety of their water, continuing to use filters or bottled water and calling for further studies before celebration. EPA Chief Lee Zeldin acknowledged the end of over a decade of effort, but some locals, like resident Michelle Campbell, feel the lifting of the order is premature given ongoing concerns and staffing cuts at the EPA. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will now oversee Flint's water system compliance moving forward. Meanwhile, the long-awaited compensation payments to Flint Water Crisis survivors who filed claims are expected to start this summer.