Second round of Flint water settlement checks coming soon
The second round of Flint water settlement checks, which will go toward young children in line to receive the highest awards, will be released later this month.
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) — Flint residents eligible for the next round of settlement checks will soon receive notification letters in the mail.
The second portion of the settlement agreement addresses high-priority injury claims. These are for children 6 years old or younger who were affected by the Flint water crisis from 2014 to 2016 and will receive the highest awards.
They suffered developmental delays and cognitive effects of consuming water with excessive amounts of lead.
Flint switched its municipal water source from Detroit’s system to the Flint River in April 2014. However, the more corrosive river water was not treated properly and it ate away the protective lining inside lead-based water pipes.
That allowed microscopic particles of lead to break off and enter the water supply inside thousands of homes and businesses across the city.
More than 26,000 claimants will receive a portion of the $626 million settlement. That includes $600 million from the state of Michigan, $20 million from Flint’s insurance companies, $5 million from McLaren Flint Hospital and $1.25 million from Rowe Professional Services.
Veolia North America, which consulted on Flint’s water system, also agreed to add $58 million to the settlement.
In December, settlements were mailed to residential property owners who claimed damages from excessive lead in Flint’s water supply. The received among the smallest awards.
Meanwhile, three families are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly failing to properly oversee Flint’s switch to drawing drinking water from the Flint River. The trial is ongoing this week in Ann Arbor federal court.