Humans can live for three weeks without food but only three days without water, so water is essential. But what if your water was poisoned? About three years ago, this was Michigan — about 99,700 —and it's 70 miles north of Detroit.
According to 2016 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Flint has the nation's highest poverty rate among U.S. cities, with at least 65,000 residents.
An estimated 58% of the residents under age 18 live below the poverty line compared to a national average of 18%, which ranks first in the childhood poverty base from Michigan's 2016 median household income data.
The trouble began about three years ago when the city switched from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River. But the new system wouldn’t be ready for two years. In the meantime, they switched to Flint River water to save costs. And that decision turned out to be a mistake.
Foul smells, bad tastes, and discolored water that’s what came out of the tap in Flint, Michigan. When residents drew drinking water from the river, they noticed that the tap water looked and smelled strange; it later tested at a dangerous level of lead. The worst thing was that the state knew about it and did nothing.
A high number of children had abnormal levels of lead in their blood, which doubled after 18 months. The residents were not alerted even though the water failed tests several times after the switch. They were informed about the problem only about nine months later.
Families have suffered for months without clean water and have had to find alternative sources.
What caused the Flint, Michigan, water crisis? Follow the timeline of where it all started and know the current situation.
Flint’s Water Crisis
Flint is the largest city in Genesee County, Michigan, United States. It is located near the Flint River and is the principal city in the Mid-Michigan region. Jacob Smith, a fur trader, founded Flint in 1918. The city is known for its great achievements and has left a lasting historical mark.
The 19th century was one of the golden eras of the said place; during this time, Flint became one of the major lumbering areas along the Saginaw Trail and the leading manufacturer of automobiles and carriages.
Moreover, the city was named the “Vehicle City” and became a manufacturing powerhouse for General Motors’ Buick and Chevrolet cars.
But the city’s glory didn’t last after General Motors downsized its workforce from 80,000 to 8,000 within the vicinity. Flint then faced a deep economic depression; this reduced the city’s population by half.
Moreover, Flint experienced a major public health emergency after its water supply was contaminated with lead and other toxins.
Due to the fund's shortfall, the local government built a new pipeline to deliver water from Lake Huron. While the pipeline was still under construction, the city used the Flint River as a temporary water source during a crisis.
Last August 14, 2014, the city discovered that the water was contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria and advised citizens to boil it before consumption. The local government then increased the chlorine level in the water and flushed the system.
Unfortunately, Flint has issued another report stating that the water is positive for total coliform bacteria. E. coli and other disease-causing organisms could pollute the water if these bacteria were present.
As it has done before, the local government added more chlorine to the system and flushed the pipes clean.
This increased chlorine in the water did not go well for General Motors. The company has stopped using the city’s water because high levels of chlorine corrode its vehicles' engine parts.
The company then decided to purchase water from the neighboring township, which draws its water from Lake Huron.
At the beginning of the following year, the city announced the risk of the byproducts of the disinfectants used in the water. Being exposed to these remnants for too long could increase the probability of a person having cancer.
The water was safe, but primary cautions were given to elders and children; if they consumed the city’s water, they were advised to see a doctor immediately.
After a few months, the Detroit Free Press reported that the children had developed rashes and had suffered from mysterious illnesses. The community was alarmed and requested that the local government send help and address the problem.
However, the MDEQ has released a statement to reassure the community that it is not alarmed. The TTHM levels are not lethal, but still a gradual health emergency.
On February 26, 2015, Lee-Anne Walters, a resident of Flint, reported to the EPA that water coming out of their tap had dark sediment. She has also theorized that this water could make her four children sick.
After lab tests, the EPA has confirmed that the water from the Walters residence contains dangerous levels of lead —approximately 104 parts per billion —seven times the EPA standard limit of 15 parts per billion. These test results confirmed that water is the reason most of them get sick.
Experts have said that lead contamination of the water was caused by the rusting pipes used to deliver water to each outlet and by the government's improper plumbing. Although the officials said they regularly cleaned and checked the pipes, the results contradicted their statements.
For a few more months, the problem remained unresolved. The level of contamination in the water increased, and the number of casualties with illnesses and diseases also multiplied. As a result, the city was declared a state of emergency.
The citizens were irritated by their local government's actions. They have been confronting elected officials about faults in their city’s water supply, only to be repeatedly told that their water is fine.
The people then sought help from public attorneys to file a case against the officials for their unaccommodating efforts and for trying to help the people, but not prioritizing the health risks posed by the water.
Although the people's outcries lasted a few more months, their prayers were answered. The officials who had been governing during those dark times were voted out, and new, trustworthy leaders were elected.
The newly elected mayor, Karen Weaver, promised to do her best to restore Flint to its former glory. She has also advised people not to use the city’s water because proper filtration and cleaning systems are still being implemented. Instead, people should drink and use filtered or bottled water.
Criminal charges were also filed against officers and employees who tried to conceal and tamper with evidence related to the lab results, financial liquidations, and other matters in the city’s water crisis case.
After half a decade, Flint has experienced tragedy and catastrophe caused by the selfishness of its former officials. Right now, the water from its taps is still unsafe.
Thankfully, the U.S. government and other big companies have been helping the city. They have provided free bottled water and free medical check-ups to the citizens.
Although the community is still dealing with the aftermath and trauma caused by the water and economic crises, it is trying its best to survive and continue its lives.
April 16, 2013
Flint’s city councils voted 7-1 to join the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA). Eager to save money. A new pipeline project will deliver water from Lake Huron, ending its contract with Detroit. With the city council’s recommendation, State Treasurer Andy Dillon authorized Flint to switch from where the water begins drawing from the Flint River.
Emergency manager Ed Kurtz officially signed the agreement. This was projected to save the city $19 million over 8 years and was approved by the state. Effective April 2014, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) will terminate its water service contract with the City of Flint.
April 2014
The water switch from Detroit’s system to the Flint River is considered temporary. At the same time, the city waits to connect to a new regional water system. The move was made as an economic measure for the struggling, majority-black city. The shift was delayed by days because workers had to complete construction of a disinfection system at a treatment plant.
Soon after the switch, residents began complaining about the water's smell, taste, and appearance. They also raise health concerns, such as skin rashes and hair loss. There are concerns about bacteria and other issues.
August 2014
This was the first time the city had issued an advisory to its residents on the west side of Flint to boil their water. The advisory announced that a Fecal coliform bacterium had been detected in their water supply. A high amount of chlorine was added to the water, and the system was cleaned.
September 2014
The city issued another boil-water advisory after a positive test for F. coli. The contamination of this kind of bacteria in the water is also a warning or sign of E. coli bacteria or other disease-causing microorganisms.
The city officials said they would clean the pipes and add more chlorine. After four days, the residents were told that drinking water from their tap was safe.
October 2014
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a statement. Outlining the possible causes of water contamination through the governor’s conference paper.
According to Stephen Busch, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality district supervisor, the city had taken operational steps to limit the potential recurrence of boil-water advisories. Cleaning the system and increasing chlorine in the water in the future. The department blamed the old pipes, cold weather, and population decline.
January 2015
The elderly and parents of young children are urged to consult their doctors after the state found that the level of disinfecting chemicals in the water exceeded the threshold set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Because of this, the city immediately warned its residents that the water contained by-products of disinfectants that may cause health issues. Including risks for cancer over time.
Detroit’s water system offered a $4 million connection fee to restore its service. However, Jerry Ambrose, Flint’s state-appointed emergency manager. And other city officials declined the offer. They cited concerns that water rates could increase by more than $12 million each year. Even the re-connection fee wavered. They insisted that the water should be safe.
The residents began forming a community forum around tote jugs of discolored water. The Detroit Free Press reported that children were starting to develop rashes and were suffering from strange illnesses.
February 2015
Lee-Anne Walters, a Flint resident and mother of four, contacted the EPA with concerns about the dark sediment in her tap water. She thought of the possibility that it could make her children sick. The test results revealed that her water had 104 parts per billion (ppb) of lead.
About seven times greater than the EPA limit of 15 ppb in the water. As a result, the MDEQ was notified by the EPA that dangerous levels of lead had been detected in Flint's water, because even small amounts could still cause lasting health and developmental problems in children.
The MDEQ noted “hiccups” in the change, including a buildup of Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), a cancer-causing byproduct of chlorine and organic matter. Elevated TTHM levels are not an immediate health emergency because disease risk increases only after years of consumption.
According to Miguel Del Toral, an EPA expert, the state was testing the water in a way that could significantly reduce lead levels. The officials played down the problems and said the water posed no imminent threat to public health. For them, it was clear that the nature of the threat was addressed poorly.
Conversely, most Flint residents were more concerned and complained about other aspects of their water, such as its taste, smell, and color.
March 2015
Another water test was done in Mrs. Walters's home. It detected 397 ppb of lead in tap water. Because of this, Flint City Council members voted 7-1 to stop using the Flint River as the water source and reconnect with Detroit. But Jerry Ambrose overruled the vote and named it incomprehensible. The costs would skyrocket, and Detroit's water would be unsafe compared to Flint's.
With this, city officials promised to spend $2.24 million for immediate improvements to its water supply. Later that month, city officials said the water quality had improved. And has met all state and federal safety standards.
July 2015
Various concerns were raised with the MDEQ that link to Mrs. Walter’s video on lead. Flint’s administrator said it would be untimely to draw any conclusions regarding the lead base from the leaked internal EPA memo. The press disseminated information to keep the public calm, stating that lead in water was not widespread.
In a local television report, Dayne Walling, the Mayor of Flint, drank a cup of tap water to ensure it was safe to drink.
However, Governor Snyder's chief of staff, Dennis Muchmore, emailed the Department of Community Health. He responded that he was disappointed by the water issue in Flint and did not think people were getting the benefit of the doubt.
August-September 2015
The MDEQ ordered Flint to improve the corrosion control treatment in the water supply due to the elevated lead levels reported from the first six months of 2015.
Marc Edwards, a professor, and his team at Virginia Tech notified us that the MDEQ had conducted a water-quality study. They then issued a preliminary report indicating that 40% of Flint homes have elevated lead levels in the water.
The team recommended that the state declare the water unsafe for drinking or cooking. Their study also found that the river was corroding old pipes and that lead was leaching into the water.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician who led the research team at Hurley Medical Center, released a study revealing the number of children with elevated blood levels. Still, the state insisted that the water was safe.
October 2015
After the government epidemiologists validated Dr. Hanna-Attisha's findings, Flint officials urged the residents to stop drinking the water. Governor Snyder ordered the distribution of water filters.
Water testing in schools and the expansion of water and blood testing. They demanded to discontinue the use of the Flint River.
The city returned to the Flint River as its source of treated water, the Detroit municipal system. The governor signed a spending bill appropriating $9.35 million to provide health services to residents and help Flint reconnect to Detroit's water supply.
January to July 2016
Governor Snyder has asked the federal government for help distributing water filters and bottled water after declaring a state of emergency in Flint.
He announced an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease—a form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. That occurred in the Flint area between June 2014 and November 2015, with 87 cases and 10 deaths. Michigan health officials reported an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases. It included some fatal patients over the past two years in the county, including Flint.
Due to the outbreak, the Michigan National Guard was mobilized to help distribute clean water and sought the President’s help.
But, he declined to declare a disaster in Flint. He authorized $5 million in aid instead of declaring a state of calamity in the city. The state of calamity allowed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to step in.
The agency issued an emergency administrative order to ensure state regulators complied with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
They were clear in their response to the water crisis. Liane Shekter-Smith, the former chief of the Michigan Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, and five other current and former state workers were charged as the criminal investigation continued.
She was charged with willful neglect of duty, misleading the public, and concealing evidence of rising lead levels in the water.
November to December 2016
The government has ordered the state of Michigan to deliver bottled water, especially to homes in Flint. This is because they could not check whether the filters were working correctly.
According to court documents, one leader of a nonprofit group helped residents install as many as 52% of the water filters in over 400 homes with problems.
Two of Flint's former emergency managers and two water plant officials who reported directly to the governor were charged with false conspiracy and pretense crimes.
The Michigan Department of Treasury (MDT) blamed them for ambiguously obtaining millions of bonds. Then, they misused the money to finance the construction of a new pipeline.
January to March 2017
Over 1,700 residents affected by the water crisis filed complaints against the EPA, totaling around $722 million.
The MDEQ announced that, according to a recent six-month study, Flint’s water system no longer has lead levels exceeding the federal limit.
The State considered ending the distribution of bottled water in the City of Flint.
The federal judge approved a $97 million budget for Michigan to examine and replace lead water service lines in 18,000 Flint homes.
The project will be completed in three years. Also, the EPA announced that it had awarded $100 million to Flint for improvements to drinking water infrastructure.
April to June 2017
Flint’s mayor, Karen Weaver, recommended where the city should get its drinking water, a long-standing crisis. That left the supply contaminated with lead. Governor Snyder agreed with her decision.
Flint's water system was improving, but lead issues remained. There was an increased risk that lead could break off and enter the water supply.
City, state, and federal officials advised residents to use home water filters. This trend was expected to continue in 2018 and 2019.
July to September 2017
For last month's fifth and likely final round, researchers collected samples from 138 Flint homes. The testing showed that lead levels remained well below the federal safety standard of 15 ppb.
High lead levels, which can cause developmental delay, miscarriage, and other problems, were found mostly in children. The outbreak has led to 15 current or former government officials being charged with crimes and lawsuits filed by several residents.
October 2017
The state prosecutors announced that Michigan's top medical official, Dr. Eden Wells, will be in charge of any crime for her role in the water crisis linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that caused at least 12 deaths.
Flint, Michigan's drinking water, now meets federal lead and copper content regulations.
However, officials cautioned that it could take a year or more before residents can drink from their faucets, as lead-tainted pipes must be replaced.
April 6, 2018
Governor Snyder appeared to flag all the reasons as reasonable. After the MDEQ proclaims that lead levels in the Flint water supply will never again be an issue, Governor Snyder declares that the free bottled water program will end, as part of a $450 million state and federal assistance program.
The state has been providing bottled water and filters at a few allocation points throughout the city, but will stop once the current supply runs out.
To be sure, there is some proof that the circumstances in Flint are improving. Lead levels remained below the government action level for up to 6 six-month observation periods from July 2016 to June 2018.
July 19, 2018
The EPA inspector general distributes a report that emphatically scrutinizes the local, state, and federal governments' delayed responses to the water crisis.
August 20, 2018
Nick Lyon, the state's Health and Human Services director, supposedly neglected "to caution the public about a Legionnaires' outbreak in Genesee County when he had seen that another outbreak was predictable and... carelessly inspecting the Legionnaires' outbreak."
What is happening in Flint, Michigan, is truly dreadful. The water contamination crisis will impact the community for decades. It underscores how ensuring safe drinking water is serious, high-stakes work, especially for families and children affected by this disaster.
Yet, many Flint residents still get their water from lead pipes. The federal action level for lead isn't a well-being-based number; it is only an authoritative trigger for the water utility to remediate.
The EPA and other health experts acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead in water. Therefore, Flint residents' progress in using lead pipes remains a concern, especially given their total lead exposure over many years.
As the crisis unfolded, plenty of finger-pointing occurred over who was to blame and what went wrong. Critics of private water solutions have seized on Flint as an opportunity to advance their agenda, regardless of the facts.
Flint is not far from what is happening in other parts of the world concerning water safety. Flint is one step closer to the future.
The Flint Water Crisis Lessons
Decisions regarding the dissemination of natural water resources have direct effects on public health. For example, the state government's decision to save money on water supply affected Flint, Michigan, but it ended up spending more.
How can we identify and ethically address public health concerns before they become crises, as illustrated by the recent worst-case example in Flint? There are lessons we can learn from it.
Economics Can Be Deceiving
Not every economically sensible decision is financially sound. Although switching Flint’s water supply to the river was supposed to save the city approximately $5 million over 2 years, the water crisis costs resulting from this decision are currently estimated at $55 million.
It is expected to reach as high as $1.5 billion, excluding the longstanding health and psychological effects on Flint residents.
Every economically suitable decision is not guaranteed to be economically sound.
Although the switch from Detroit to Flint’s water supply was supposed to save the city $5 million over 2 years, the total expenditure was $55 million, and it was expected to reach $1.5 billion.
This didn’t include the longstanding health and psychological effects on Flint residents.
Pay Attention to Unexpected Consequences
Supplying safe drinking water needs a critical balancing act. Even a slight change in supply can cause a slump in the whole treatment. And a distribution system, so decisions must be made together with exhaustive research and advocacy.
A water system’s primary function is to supply and distribute safe drinking water, thereby protecting public health. Initial adherence to regulations should be considered a minimum C-grade level of satisfactory performance, but it is by no means a stopping point.
Thinking comprehensively about logical potentialities will help prevent unexpected consequences, such as widespread lead poisoning. A good starting point is the policy statements and clarifications on intent in the EPA’s Water Supply Guidance (WSG) manual.
The Time of Isolation is Gone
We are no longer living in a small-town farming culture. Our infrastructures and industries are growing increasingly urban and interdependent. We can no longer tolerate the mentality that the world is an endless trash can at any level of governance or administration.
Sheila Suess Kenned, law and public policy professor at Purdue University, sums it up perfectly: "America is no longer a country of four million farmers and small merchants scattered along the eastern seacoast.
Surprisingly, most Americans no longer grow and preserve food or draw water from a pristine nearby creek. Instead, cars and factories discharge pollutants into the air, and airplanes crisscross the skies.
And we live in densely populated cities where—among other things—we can’t just toss our garbage out the back door.”
The Top Priority is Smart Management
The effects of climate change are prevalent. As water usage drops, pollution increases, and storms become more violent.
Because of this, cities are getting smarter about managing their drinking, rain, and wastewater as fully integrated systems.
This has become crucial not only to advance the distribution of safe drinking water but also to fight these increasingly challenging issues, especially pollution.
The result can only be lost without an increasingly big-picture view of systems that change entire populations.
Read and Learn more articles about the Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan
As Water Problems Grew, Officials Belittled Complaints From Flint
Revisiting the Flint, Michigan, Lead-in-water Crisis
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