State grants, loans may help finance Flint water pipeline

FLINT, Mich. (AP) – State officials are working on ways to help Flint pay for a new 5.5-mile pipeline that would allow the city to test water from a new Lake Huron system. The Department of Environmental Quality has identified $4.2 million in grants and the Michigan Strategic Fund is preparing to loan Flint $3 million. The pipeline is required by federal regulators. It would run parallel to the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline and is expected to cost up to $7.2 million. Flint switched from Detroit’s system to the Flint River in 2014 to save money, but the corrosive river water caused lead to leach from aging pipes into homes. Flint has switched back to Detroit water. Flint plans to use the Karegnondi pipeline once it’s ready.