(Above) Interior view of the Carter-Harrison crib intake pool, located two miles offshore in Lake Michigan. Photo by Richard Drew. (Click on image to view larger version.)

February 4, 2016 – Chicago will share some of its water with Flint, Michigan, the city with the ongoing water contamination crisis.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, responsible for wastewater treatment and storm water management in Cook County, announced it will deliver drinking water to Flint residents on Saturday. MWRD commissioners and staff purchased 36,000 bottles of water that will be distributed at a Flint food bank.

“MWRD understands the value of water and the importance of clean water in our daily lives,” reads a statement from MWRD. “Watching the situation develop…from afar, we were compelled to do something to let the people know they are not alone and that there are people who care and want to help in this time of crisis.”

The Flint water crisis started in 2014 when the city switched its water source from treated Detroit water to the Flint River, which turned out to be contaminated with lead from aging pipes.