Cocoa sends drinking water to Flint, Michigan

City is donating 10 pallets of water

17, 280 bottles of Cocoa water is being sent to Flint, Michigan to help with their lead contaminated water situation. The ten pallets of 20 ounce bottles are at the City of Cocoa Utilities, and will soon be shipped north. TIM SHORTT/FLORIDA TODAY

COCOA, Fla. – The City of Cocoa is donating 17,280 bottles of water to Flint, Michigan.

The bottles come labeled with "Cocoa" in big letters.

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News 6 partner Florida Today said the donated water comes from Cocoa's Dyal Water Treatment Plant and will be shipped Friday by truck to Flint.

"It's amazing how this community came together to help another community in need," City Manager John Titkanich said.

Titkanich said he was reading stories about the water system contamination problems in Flint and thought about the possibility of helping. City Council members all thought it was a good idea. They soon found out that Elastec Inc., a manufacturer of, containment equipment for oil spills and trash, was conducting a water collection drive in other states.

"It just happens that Cocoa is a customer," Elastec Vice President Jeff Pearce said. "Cocoa volunteered with the water and we're paying for the freight. It kind of goes hand in hand with what we do. It's going directly to the people who need it in Flint."

The city is donating 10 pallets of water, or 17,280 16.9-ounce bottles. Elastec, which has a manufacturing plant in Cocoa, has so far collected 21 pallets of water.

"We are proud to donate our Cocoa water to those families and citizens in need and are appreciative of the support provided by Cocoa business Elastec to get the water shipped to Flint," Cocoa Mayor Henry Parrish said. "It is times like this that I am proud to be a citizen of this great community."

Council member Brenda Warner said there was no question about whether to help a community in need. The city already had the water bottled.


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