Philadelphia's water-testing procedures are ‘worse than Flint’ – expert

City council will hold hearings in testing drinking water for lead after a warning that residents' health could be at risk in wake of contamination in Flint, Michigan

The Philadelphia city council will investigate how it tests its water, after an expert told the Guardian the city's procedures are "worse than Flint" and risk putting residents' health in jeopardy.

Philadelphia council members revealed plans to hold hearings "concerning best practices followed by the Philadelphia Water Department" in its testing of drinking water for lead, in the wake of high lead levels in Flint, Michigan, and a Guardian report that found problems with water testing nationwide.