CHICAGO — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has given the city of Flint $2 million in grants to help improve the water, whose quality has plunged since the city pulled out of the Detroit Water and Sewer System.
Flint is among 11 municipalities that are getting grants as part of a new $8 million, Financially Distressed Cities, Villages and Townships Grant Program, according to the governor's office.
Flint will use $900,000 to hire a contractor to review for leaks and $1.1 million to replace its Water Pollution Control Program.
"This announcement comes at the perfect time for Flint as we continue with repairs and upgrades to our water service infrastructure," Mayor Dayne Walling said in a statement.
Since exiting the Detroit system last year, Flint has been pulling water from the Flint River. Residents have spent weeks complaining about the yellow-tinged water, saying it's making them sick.
Flint eventually plans to get its water through the Karegnondi Water Authority with Genesee County, but that new water system won't be completed until the end of 2016.
