300 plumbers rolled up their sleeves and got to work over the weekend donating their time to help the beset residents of Flint, Michigan, whose tap water is currently undrinkable.
Flint switched water systems in late 2015 but failed to use corrosion controls, which has left the city’s drinking water filled with lead.
Flint’s drinking water is filled with lead | Image | Twitter via @TheEconomist
Local plumbers have been fitting drinking taps in local homes with filters since last year, but last weekend they were helped by hundreds of volunteer plumbers who descended on the struggling city and worked for free.
According to ABC12 in Flint, residents need filters on their taps to remove the lead from their drinking water, but some faucets are old or oddly shaped, making installation of the filters impossible.
About 40 per cent of Flint residents live below the poverty line, and aside from difficulties fitting them, many residents can’t afford the filters, which reportedly cost about $140 (AUD) each.
“We did not cause this American tragedy in Flint,” union official Harold Harrington told the plumber volunteers who arrived to help. “But we certainly can help correct the damage that has been done!”
Union official Harold Harrington addresses hundred of volunteer plumbers | Image | Twitter via @SusanMaylone
On Saturday alone, the plumbers replaced faucets and fitted filters in 800 homes, according to ABC12.
WATCH HERE – plumbers install water filters for Flint residents:
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