EPA wants states to double-check drinking water procedures

It obtained the document through a public records request. Activists have demanded that Snyder resign. MI officials had believed the rule allowed Flint to test the water for two six-month periods before deciding whether controls were needed.

Provisions in the loan deal "were included to ensure the city remain on solid financial footing going forward", state treasury spokesman Terry Stanton said Wednesday.

The more corrosive water from the Flint River leached more lead from the city pipes than Detroit's water.

Snyder spokesman Ari Adler reiterated that the provision was not an outright prohibition and could have been changed with treasurer approval. Former Flint emergency manager Ed Kurtz opted to draw water from the Flint River as an interim drinking water source, beginning in April of 2014, after Flint and Detroit could not agree on an interim price for Flint to continue receiving Detroit water while it waited for the pipeline, slated for completion this summer, to be built.

"The Snyder administration effectively put a financial gun to the heads of Flint's families by using the Emergency Manager law to lock the City into taking water from a poisoned source", Dillon said in a statement.

Donald Trump wins Nevada caucuses
The Lone Star State is Cruz's life support for a campaign that's struggling to remain an alternative to the Donald. In the Democratic race, front-runner Hillary Clinton was looking for a commanding victory over Vermont Sen.

"The City shall not enter into an agreement with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, or any successor entity, including the Great Lakes Water Authority, without the prior written approval of the State Treasurer". The official also briefly mentioned Legionnaires in a January 2015 email to one of Snyder's spokespeople, according to recently released emails. Residents were officially told not to drink the water due to that lead contamination in October 2015.

In a letter drawing more specifics, Beauvais called on state water regulators to confirm that their drinking water programs are meeting protocols and procedures set out in the Lead and Copper Rule - a complex regulation that requires water systems to test a number of sites for lead, but only requires actions if more than 10% of the homes show levels over 15 parts per billion.

Snyder said last week, "we didn't connect all the dots that I wish we would have", but added that when his aides checked with environmental and health experts in state agencies about concerns, they continually reaffirmed "there was no problem".

State regulators were urged "in the near-term" to confirm that strict sampling protocols were being used and guidance for identifying so-called "Tier 1" sites - those where the worst potential problems with lead could lurk - were made public.