FLINT, Mich. — The state of Michigan will pay $600 million to compensate Flint residents who were made ill from tainted tap water.
The state would establish a $600 million fund, and residents would file claims for compensation. Details of the settlement will be released later this week.
The settlement is intended to resolve all legal actions against the state after the city heeded state regulators’ advice not to properly treat the water.
“We and the other parties are bound by a federal court order to maintain the confidentiality of detailed settlement and mediation communications until we reach a certain point,” said Ryan Jarvi, a spokesman for Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office. “We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement.”
Under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager and in an effort to save money, Flint changed the sourcing of its water from the city of Detroit to the Flint River in 2014. Regulators advised the city not to apply corrosion controls to the water, which became contaminated by lead from old pipes.
Residents blamed the contaminated water on myriad health issues including rashes and hair loss. The water was discolored and had a bad taste and smell. In 2015, researchers said children from Flint had abnormally high levels of lead in their blood. Residents used bottled water for more than a year. By 2016, researchers said lead levels in the water were undetectable.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
