Flint water crisis in Flint, Michigan, begun on the 24th of April 2014. Officials looking to save money switched Michigan’s drinking water supply from the Detroit city system to the Flint River. As a result, the new water was highly corrosive. City officials broke federal law by failing to treat the water properly, leading to leaching out into thousands of homes. Soon after the switch, Flint residents complained about dark-colored, foul-tasting, smelly water, as well as skin rashes and hair loss. Independent tests found that a significant proportion of samples had lead levels well above the lead’s set action level. The water crisis in Michigan, exposed 9000 children, particularly sensitive to lead.
FAST FACTS ON THE FLINT WATER CRISIS
The Flint water crisis was not always that way. Flint once thrived as the home of the nation’s largest General Motors plant. The city’s economic decline began during the 1980s when GM downsized. In 2011, the state of Michigan took over Flint’s finances after an audit projected a $25 million deficit. The city announced that a new pipeline would be built to reduce the water fund shortfall. The new pipe would then deliver water from Lake Huron to Flint. In 2014, while the pipeline was under construction, the city turned to the Flint River as a water source. After the switch, the crisis began with reports on changes to the water’s color, smell, and taste.
fast facts on the Flint water crisis
EVERYTHING THERE IS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLINT WATER CRISIS
The crisis begun with the environmental injustice of Flint River. Inadequate treatment and testing of the water resulted in a series of both water quality and health issues. The foul-smelling and off-tasting water piped into Flint homes for 18 months caused skin rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin. Long before the recent crisis garnered national headlines, Flint’s city was eminently familiar with water woes. This made the Michigan Civil Rights Commission blame the government’s response to the crisis.
Additional attachments
>> Download
