Governors' emails show debate over blame for Flint water

(AP) — A day after doctors reported high levels of lead in Flint children, Gov. Rick Snyder's top aide told him the "real responsibility" for the city's water issues rested with local government officials, emails released Wednesday showed.

Flint's water became contaminated with lead when the city switched its water source in 2014 as a cost-cutting measure while under the city was under state financial management.

[...] Wednesday, Snyder asked President Barack Obama to reconsider the denial of a federal disaster declaration to address the crisis, saying it poses an "imminent and long-term threat" to residents.

Obama declared an emergency — qualifying the city for $5 million — but concluded that the high lead levels are not a disaster based on the legal requirement that disaster money is intended for natural events such as fires or floods.

The lead— which can lead to behavior problems and learning disabilities in children and kidney ailments in adults — has left Flint residents unable to drink unfiltered tap water.

The National Guard, state employees, local authorities and volunteers have been distributing lead tests, filters and bottled water.

In his annual speech, Snyder committed $28 million more in the short term to pay for more filters, bottled water, school nurses, intervention specialists, testing and monitoring — on top of $10.6 million allocated in the fall.

The money also would replace plumbing fixtures in schools with lead problems and could help Flint with unpaid water bills.