President Barack Obama landed in Flint, Michigan, on his first visit to the city since it was revealed that the water supply had been contaminated with lead and other chemicals.
Michigan Gov Rick Snyder greeted Mr Obama on the tarmac of Bishop International Airport, as the president planned to tour the city and speak with residents.
ABC 12 reports that Mr Obama is expected to speak at Northwestern High School following a trip to the Food Bank of Easter Michigan.
The White House announced the visit after Mr Obama responded to a letter from an 8-year-old activist, Mari Copena, commonly known as “Little Miss Flint”.
“I am one of the children that is effected (sic) by this water, and I’ve been doing my best to march in protest and to speak out for all the kids that live here in Flint,” she wrote. She added that she would like to meet the President and First Lady during a trip to Washington to watch the congressional hearing of Michigan Gov Rick Snyder.
Mr Obama announced the Wednesday visit in his reply to Mari.
“I want to make sure people like you and your family are receiving the help you need and deserve,” he wrote. “Like you, I'll use my voice to call for change and help lift up your community.”
The contamination occurred after Flint witched its water supply from Detroit to the untreated Flint River in April 2014 as a move to save the city money. The water leached lead from old pipes, taking it to the sinks and showers of Flint homes.
The revelation led to a criminal investigation that resulted in the indictment of three officials.
Members of Congress have called for the resignation of Mr Snyder, who alleged in a hearing that he was made aware of the toxic water at least a year before it was made public.
Mr Snyder has been urging Flint residents to begin drinking from their taps again, assuring them that new filters have made the water safer. To prove his point, he announced he would only drink water from Flint residencies for a 30 day period.
Prior to the president's visit, Anna Heaton, spokesperson for Mr Snyder, said they hope the president will drink Flint water during his visit.
“We are hopeful the president will drink the water in Flint, to help reinforce Gov. Snyder’s actions and the EPA’s message that filtered Flint water is safe to drink,” Ms Heaton said in a statement.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters, however, that he was “not aware of any photo ops that involve the president’s consumption of water.”
“Based on what the EPA has communicated to the public, properly filtered water is safe to drink,” he said. “The president will certainly follow that advice.”
