Michigan Proposes Strategy To Determine If Flint Water Safe

FLINT, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is proposing a five-part strategy as part of an effort to determine whether Flint's water is safe to drink.

The state says the plan to help ensure drinking water no longer is tainted with lead includes residential water testing, school testing, food service and restaurant provider testing, blood testing and overall testing of Flint's water distribution system.

DEQ Director Keith Creagh told the Detroit Free Press his agency will outline plans Monday to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Creagh hopes "to be able to say something about the general health of the system come mid-April."

Flint switched in 2014 to the Flint River from Detroit's water system to save money. The river water was not treated properly and lead from pipes leached into Flint homes.