Flint water crisis

Flint water crisis
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Title	Flint water crisis
Date	April 2014 – ongoing
Place	Flint, Michigan, United States
Cause	Switch to Flint River as water source without proper corrosion control
Outcome	Widespread lead contamination, public health emergency, numerous lawsuits and criminal charges

Flint water crisis. A protracted public health and environmental crisis that began in 2014 when the city of Flint, Michigan, changed its municipal water supply source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River. The failure to implement adequate corrosion control treatment caused lead to leach from aging pipes, contaminating the water supply and exposing tens of thousands of residents to elevated levels of lead and other contaminants. The crisis prompted state and federal emergency declarations, multiple investigations, and became a national symbol of infrastructural neglect and environmental injustice.

Background and causes

The roots of the crisis are tied to the economic decline of the industrial city, which was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager seeking cost-saving measures. In 2013, the decision was made for Flint to leave the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and join the new Karegnondi Water Authority, which was building a new pipeline. As a temporary, cost-saving measure while the new pipeline was under construction, the city switched its water source in April 2014 from treated Lake Huron water supplied by Detroit to using water directly from the Flint River. Officials at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality failed to require the addition of orthophosphate corrosion inhibitors, a standard practice for water systems with aging lead service lines. The highly corrosive river water, combined with the lack of treatment, caused lead to leach from pipes, plumbing fixtures, and solder.

Timeline of events

Residents almost immediately began complaining about the water's color, taste, and odor, reporting health issues like skin rashes. In August and September 2014, the city issued boil-water advisories due to positive tests for coliform bacteria and E. coli. General Motors stopped using the water at its Flint Engine Assembly plant in October 2014 because it was corroding engine parts. Despite mounting evidence, officials repeatedly assured the public the water was safe. In February 2015, an Environmental Protection Agency manager, Miguel A. Del Toral, alerted superiors about the lack of corrosion control. Local activists, including LeeAnne Walters and Melissa Mays, along with researchers like Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech, conducted independent testing that revealed dangerously high lead levels. In September 2015, a study by Mona Hanna-Attisha of Hurley Medical Center showed a spike in children's blood lead levels. This forced official acknowledgment, leading the city to switch back to Detroit's system in October 2015.

Health and environmental impacts

The primary public health impact was widespread lead exposure, a potent neurotoxin particularly harmful to children, linked to developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues. The research by Mona Hanna-Attisha documented a significant increase in the incidence of elevated blood lead levels among children in Flint. The corrosive water also caused an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Genesee County in 2014-2015, resulting in at least 12 deaths. Residents suffered from a range of health problems including skin lesions, hair loss, and anxiety. Environmentally, the crisis highlighted the degradation of the nation's aging water infrastructure, particularly the prevalence of lead service lines in older industrial cities.

Government response and investigations

In October 2015, then-Governor Rick Snyder announced a plan to return to the Detroit system. In January 2016, he declared a state of emergency in Genesee County, a move followed by a federal emergency declaration by President Barack Obama. The Michigan National Guard was mobilized to distribute water and filters. Multiple investigations were launched, including by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Attorney General's office, and the U.S. House Oversight Committee. A task force appointed by Rick Snyder placed primary blame on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Legal proceedings and settlements

The crisis resulted in a complex web of civil and criminal litigation. The Michigan Attorney General's office, under both Bill Schuette and later Dana Nessel, filed criminal charges against 15 state and local officials, including individuals from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Many cases were dismissed or dropped after new prosecutorial teams re-evaluated the evidence. A major civil settlement, approved by a federal judge in 2021, established a $626 million fund for victims, with the majority coming from the state of Michigan. Separate lawsuits were filed against engineering firms like Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam.

Aftermath and ongoing issues

The crisis spurred a nationwide reckoning on lead in water and environmental justice. In Flint, the city, aided by state and federal funding, has undertaken a massive program to replace thousands of lead service lines, a project that has continued for years. Public trust in government remains severely damaged. Long-term health monitoring for exposed residents, particularly children, is an ongoing concern led by institutions like the Hurley Medical Center and Michigan State University. The event influenced policy, contributing to updates of the Lead and Copper Rule and increased federal funding for water infrastructure through laws like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Category:Water pollution in the United States Category:History of Flint, Michigan Category:2010s health disasters in the United States