Every classroom in Flint will soon have a water filter.
ZeroWater, United Way of Genesee County and General Motors Foundation are donation 2,500 filters to Flint schools.
This announcement comes after tests show that four Flint Community Schools have lead levels above the federal action level.
“This gives us something in every classroom that can ensure there’s clean water until we can get to some of the more permanent fixes,” says Jamie Gaskin, the CEO of United Way of Genesee County.
Gaskin estimates these filters will need replacing within a month or two – if not less. “It depends on the actual water that’s coming into each filter,” Gaskin says.
Parents say they’re scared for their children.
Monique Booker’s daughter is a 4th grader at Freeman Elementary School, where the lead levels are more than six times the federal limit. Booker learned about the elevated lead levels yesterday while watching the news.
“It was devastating,” Booker says. “It was kinda like a take your breath away moment: ‘Oh my god, my daughter goes to this school and she’s exposed to this.’ ”
Flint Superintendent Bilal Tawwab says, “We understand this is a very scary time.”
The city of Flint is expected to get hooked back up to Detroit's water system in as little as two weeks.
