Flint homeowners are getting new kits to test their tap water from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
For nearly a year, Flint residents have been able to pick up testing kits at water distribution sites. The state would test the water samples for the presence of lead.
The new testing kits will now contain two bottles. Residents will be instructed to fill the smaller bottle first. State officials say the test will produce three results.
The intent is to assess if home water faucets are a significant source of lead in the tap water.
(Related: Do you have lead in your pipes and faucets? Here's how you can find out.)
The MDEQ’s George Krisztian says tests at Flint schools showed faucets and fixtures were prime sources of lead in the drinking water.
“And now we want to take a look in the residences to see if what we saw in the schools holds up in the residences,” says Krisztian.
Krisztian says many fixtures contain high levels of lead. The new test kits will be available at water distribution sites. Krisztian expects the data should start coming in in about four months.
