To: Dayne Walling, Mayor of Flint, MI and City Councilors, Flint, MI

Flint Residents Deserve Clean, Safe Water Now!

In 2014, Flint's emergency manager disconnected the city from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and started providing residents with water from the Flint River. Since that time, residents have been struggling to maintain access to a clean, safe drinking water supply.

The Flint River clearly is not a safe, reliable source for the city's drinking water. It was as easy as pushing a button to disconnect from DWSD; it's time to push the button again, reconnecting Flint to DWSD and providing Flint residents with the clean, safe water they deserve.

Why is this important?

Water is a basic human right. The United Nations General Assembly recognizes that access to safe drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights.

The water in Flint, MI is not safe. In 2014, Flint's emergency manager disconnected residents from the clean, safe drinking water that they had been buying from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) and began providing them with water from the Flint River.

Residents across the city have toxic water flowing from their taps. People have reported water with high levels of copper, lead and THMs (chemicals that result when chlorine mixes with organic matter). As a result, Flint residents are suffering from hair loss, lead poisoning and other health problems related to the chemicals in their drinking water.

Water is a basic human right, and all people deserve access to safe, affordable drinking water and sanitation. In Flint, the solution is as simple as pushing a button and reconnecting to DWSD.