The Flint water crisis began four years ago when officials switched the city’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. However, that river water was more corrosive and caused dangerous levels of lead from old pipes to leach into the city’s drinking water, poisoning residents. After fighting with officials to even get the problem recognized in 2015, many residents still don’t trust or drink the city’s tap water. Elon Musk claims he wants to help and the SpaceX and Tesla CEO recently tweeted the promise: “Please consider this a commitment that I will fund fixing the water in any house in Flint that has water contamination above FDA levels. No kidding.”
Please consider this a commitment that I will fund fixing the water in any house in Flint that has water contamination above FDA levels. No kidding.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 11, 2018
For now, reply to my tweet with ppm & ppb test results & will send someone to install a water filter. Creating email flint@x.com, but I’m in China so that won’t be working until tomorrow.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 11, 2018
Michigan’s state government recently ended a free program delivering bottled water to the city, even though some people continue to report the water is not drinkable or useable. Musk encouraged residents to reply to his tweet with test results and listed an email address for the program.
You’re right on both counts. Most houses in Flint have safe water, but they’ve lost faith in govt test results. Some houses are still outliers. Will organize a weekend in Flint to add filters to those houses with issues & hopefully fix perception of those that are actually good.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 11, 2018
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