Flint won't accept JM free pipe? [“JM Eagle pipe offer to Flint ‘still being considered,'”] It's still a matter of money. The state authorities switched Flint's water sources to save money, yet now we give the city a chance to save money and they balk, and worse yet, start to use copper pipe to replace the lead. I smell the influence of metal workers in a historically metal-working city, fighting the intrusion of plastic, and perhaps seasoning their pressure with a dose of plastophobia. “PVC has lead in it, no?” (Old literature cited.) I think JM had offered polyethylene and not PVC, but no matter, it's plastic. “Poly-whatever has BPA in it?” (that's impossible, but believing in the impossible is often necessary for mental health.)
It's the money angle that is most upsetting. Not only would plastic save much of the $9.75 million materials cost, but it would certainly reduce the $36 million projected labor cost. (Figures from your article.) However the city gets the money to pay for it, that money is most wisely spent helping the people who have been most affected, not just to support the metalworkers. The whole country is watching you, Flint. Honor our concerns and efforts, do the right and least expensive thing, and start putting in that plastic pipe as soon as possible.
Allan Griff
El Cerrito, Calif.