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Racine pitches in to help Flint water crisis

Posted at 4:36 PM, Jan 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-10 17:45:25-05

RACINE -- The chief of the Racine Police Department is helping spearhead an initiative to bring clean water to a Michigan city dealing with a water crisis.

The Flint water crisis began in April 2014 after the city switched sources for its water supply to save money. The new water was saltier and corroded old pipes, allowing lead to leach into the system and poison children. Flint has now switched back to its old water source, but the lead levels are still high, leaving anyone who drinks from a tap — especially youngsters — at risk.

Chief Art Howell tells TODAY’s TMJ4 that a pastor from Greater Mount Eagle Missionary Baptist Church is from Flint, and told him about the problem.

That’s when he decided to spearhead an effort to get people to donate money for bottled water.

"We know the water is dangerous, and we know these young people, the entire community, is at risk from a public safety perspective. We just want to do what we do and reach out," Howell said.

Donations may also be submitted electronically through Givelify.com.