An Update On Mayor Weaver’s FAST Start Initiative
Since FAST Start began in March 2016, crews from five area companies have completed
excavation at 14,768 homes. As of April 2018, 5,935 homes have been checked. According to
reports from contractors, crews have identified copper service lines at a total of 5,020 homes,
915 homes have been identified as having lead and/or galvanized service lines.
Overall, to date, service lines to 7,143 homes have been identified as lead and/or galvanized and
have been replaced, including 915 homes found this year. The efforts are a part of Mayor Karen
Weaver’s plan to determine if water service lines are made of copper and replace service lines
made of lead and galvanized steel. Mayor Weaver is determined to restore safe, clean drinking
water to Flint residents.
To be eligible for service line replacements, residents must have an active water account. They
also must sign a consent card giving permission for the work to be done (consent cards are being
delivered to residents). In rental homes, both the owner and the tenant must sign consent cards.
Residents are urged to sign the consent cards as soon as possible, so crews working in their
neighborhood can replace their service line.
The goal is to have all of Flint’s lead-tainted service lines replaced by 2020.
More information about the FAST Start initiative can be found on the City of Flint website –
www.cityofflint.com.
(Photo by Greg Shamus/Getty Images)
