Genesee County to Pay Flint $1 Million for River Water as Backup Source

Genesee County will pay the city of Flint approximately $1 million a year to use Flint River water as a backup water source. The county needs to have a backup source of water in case of emergency, such as a major pipeline break, power outage or contamination. The water would be treated, just like the water that the city currently gets from Detroit.

Flint and Genesee County had an informal agreement to use Flint River water as a backup source for year, but now has a signed contract to guarantee the water if needed. Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright told M-live that the county was already paying $1 to $2 million a year to Detroit as a "pass-through" fee. Now that money will go to Flint.

Wright also said that "there is no problem with the quality of treated Flint River water."

This deal keeps a large amount of money here in our area instead of sending it to Detroit. I'll drink to that.