Flint Water Crisis: Pollution's Devastating Impact

The Flint water crisis is considered one of the worst human-caused environmental disasters in recent US history. In 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan, switched its water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint River, exposing residents to lead-contaminated water and potentially carcinogenic compounds. This decision was made during a financial crisis, with the aim of saving the city an estimated $5 million over two years. However, it unleashed a crisis that had severe health consequences, particularly for children, and highlighted issues of systemic racism and governmental failure. Ten years on, Flint residents are still dealing with the aftermath and awaiting justice, as officials continue to miss deadlines for replacing lead pipes.

Flint's water woes

Flints Water Woes

The city of Flint, Michigan, has had a long history of water woes, with the Flint River, which flows through the city, serving as an unofficial waste disposal site for local industries for over a century. In 2014, the city made a cost-saving decision to switch its drinking water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint River, which ultimately led to a major water crisis. This crisis was a result of inadequate treatment and testing of the water, which caused a series of water quality and health issues for residents.

One of the main issues was the release of lead into the drinking water due to corroded pipes and plumbing. Lead exposure can have severe health consequences, particularly for children, including damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, and learning and behavior problems. Residents raised concerns about the colour, odour, and taste of their water, as well as skin rashes and hair loss. Despite these complaints, government officials initially dismissed claims that the water was making people sick.

Studies conducted during the crisis found elevated levels of lead in the drinking water, with some samples exceeding the safe limit of 15 ppb. The water was also linked to outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, in which 12 people died and 79 became ill. The poor governmental response to the crisis was attributed to systemic racism by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.

In 2016, a federal judge ordered that the government provide bottled water or properly installed faucet filters to every home in Flint. A major settlement was also reached, requiring the city to replace thousands of lead pipes and providing funding for water testing, health programs, and education. While these were important steps towards resolving the crisis, the work of Flint residents and their advocates continues to ensure the city properly manages its lead service line replacement program and addresses the long-term impacts on the community.

Since the crisis, the City of Flint has made significant investments in upgrading its water infrastructure, including replacing main pipes, rehabilitating water reservoirs, and renovating the water tower. These efforts aim to ensure safe and effective water treatment and provide a reliable water supply for the city's residents. While progress has been made, the crisis has had a profound impact on the trust within the community, the regional economy, and the health and well-being of Flint's residents.

Water quality and health issues

The Flint water crisis was a direct result of pollution and poor water quality. It began on April 25, 2014, when the city of Flint changed its drinking water source from Detroit's system, supplied by Lake Huron, to the Flint River to save costs. This river had been used for waste disposal by local industries for over a century. The water was not treated with necessary corrosion control, which caused lead to leach from pipes and plumbing, contaminating the water.

The inadequate treatment and testing of the water resulted in a series of major water quality and health issues for Flint residents. The water that came out of Flint taps was foul-smelling, discoloured, and off-tasting. Residents reported skin rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin. Their concerns were chronically ignored, overlooked, and discounted by government officials.

The contaminated water contributed to a doubling, and in some cases, tripling of the incidence of elevated blood lead levels in the city’s children. Lead exposure can damage children’s brains and nervous systems, leading to slow growth and development, and resulting in learning, behaviour, hearing, and speech problems. It can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility in adults.

The water was also linked to two outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in 2014–2015, in which 12 people died and 79 people became ill. In March 2024, a study reported several detrimental effects of the water crisis on the children of Flint's mental health and school performance.

Response and Recovery

In January 2016, a federal emergency was declared, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided assistance and support for response and recovery efforts. The CDC coordinated health messaging, assessed lead exposure, provided guidance on blood lead screening, and linked community members to follow-up services.

In March 2016, a lawsuit was filed against multiple entities and government employees for their role in the crisis. The same month, a settlement was reached, requiring the city to replace lead pipes with funding from the state and guaranteeing funding for water testing, faucet filter installation, and health programs to address the residual effects of contaminated water.

Lead contamination

The Flint water crisis is a classic example of how pollution can directly affect drinking water sources. In April 2014, Flint's drinking water source was changed from Detroit's water system, which drew from Lake Huron, to the Flint River. This change in source was a cost-saving move by the city. However, the Flint River had been used for decades as an unofficial waste disposal site by local industries, receiving untreated refuse, raw sewage, agricultural and urban runoff, and toxins from landfills.

The switch to the Flint River as the water source resulted in inadequate treatment and testing of the water, leading to a series of major water quality and health issues for Flint residents. One of the main issues was lead contamination. Due to the river's long history as a waste site, the water was highly corrosive, and the aging water distribution system had pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures containing lead. This caused lead to leach into the drinking water, a process known as corrosion.

Lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels. It is particularly dangerous for children, as it can damage their developing brains and nervous systems, leading to slow growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech issues. In adults, lead exposure is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility.

The lead contamination in Flint's water supply had severe consequences. Studies revealed that the contaminated water contributed to a doubling, and in some cases, tripling of elevated blood lead levels in the city's children. The crisis led to widespread public outrage and legal action, with residents, doctors, scientists, journalists, and activists working together to address the issue. As a result, the city of Flint was ordered to replace thousands of lead pipes and provide funding for comprehensive tap water testing, education programs, and health initiatives to help residents deal with the residual effects of the tainted water.

To prevent lead contamination in drinking water, the EPA issued the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This rule includes the requirement for corrosion control treatment to prevent lead and copper from contaminating drinking water. Additionally, public water systems are required to alert their customers if there is a problem with drinking water quality, and many offer water quality reports and testing services. To reduce exposure, individuals can use water filters certified to remove lead, maintain their plumbing fixtures, and avoid using warm or hot water for drinking and cooking, as it is more likely to contain elevated lead levels.

Water treatment and testing

One common source of water for treatment and testing is groundwater, which has passed through natural filters like sand, silt, and rock. Groundwater can be treated and tested by organisations like the Springfield Utility Board (SUB) to meet state and federal water quality standards. SUB offers resources for private well owners to get their water tested, including certified labs and community well-testing programs.

The regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), mandate official methods for testing drinking water and wastewater. These methods include microbiological and chemical testing. Microbiological testing involves evaluating the presence of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, while chemical testing analyses parameters such as pH, conductivity, turbidity, and the presence of specific chemicals or pollutants.

Wastewater treatment typically involves multiple stages, including tertiary and quaternary treatments. Tertiary treatment uses chemical and biological processes to reduce nutrient loading, while quaternary treatment targets challenging pollutants like pharmaceutical compounds. Analytical testing is required at each stage to monitor key chemical parameters and ensure compliance with environmental protection standards.

To facilitate water treatment and testing, various instruments and test kits are available. For example, Hanna Instruments offers portable meters and analyzers that can test multiple water quality parameters, including pH, chlorine, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. Additionally, test kits like Spectroquant® can be used to determine the presence of specific ions or compounds in water samples. These tools enable professionals and researchers to evaluate water quality accurately and take appropriate action to ensure safe and environmentally friendly water practices.

Government response and recovery efforts

The Flint water crisis, which began on April 25, 2014, was a result of the city switching its water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint River, which had long served as an unofficial waste disposal site. This change led to inadequate treatment and testing of the water, causing a series of major water quality and health issues for residents. Despite complaints and protests by residents about the foul-smelling, discolored, and off-tasting water, officials repeatedly dismissed claims that the water was making people sick.

2015

In 2015, test results showed elevated lead levels in Flint's water and the blood of its children. This prompted NRDC, local residents, and other groups to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an immediate emergency response. However, the EPA failed to act. In October 2015, Snyder requested that Michigan legislators contribute $6 million toward Flint's return to Lake Huron water, with additional funding coming from the city and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. On October 16, 2015, Flint was reconnected to the Detroit water system.

2016

In January 2016, a federal emergency was declared, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided assistance and support for response and recovery efforts. The CDC's activities included coordinating health messaging, assessing lead exposure, providing guidance on blood lead screening, and linking community members to follow-up services. The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) was designated as the principal federal agency for response and recovery, and the HHS worked with the city and state to develop a plan. The CDC's Emergency Operations Center was activated from February 1 to March 15, 2016, to coordinate the response.

In March 2016, Michigan declared that returning to the Detroit water system required state approval, and the city was granted an emergency loan of $7 million. That same month, the Flint Water Advisory Task Force released its final report, which found that the MDEQ, MDHHS, the Governor's office, and other state agencies had failed to follow federal rules and had aggressively dismissed and attempted to discredit concerns raised by the public. Two MDEQ employees were suspended, and one was later fired, as a result of their actions related to water testing in Flint.

In June 2016, the government-issued phones of 65 state officials, including former Governor Snyder, were seized as part of a criminal investigation into the crisis. In September 2016, Flint officials announced that the city would continue using Detroit water until a new pipeline was constructed and the Flint River was properly tested and treated.

2017

In November 2017, a case was settled between the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the MDEQ over the latter's delay in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

2021

In 2021, nine people were charged by the attorney general’s office, including Governor Snyder, Nick Lyon (director of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services), and Dr. Eden Wells (the state’s chief medical executive).

2023

In 2023, a civil lawsuit related to the crisis was settled for $626 million. However, no individuals in power have faced criminal penalties for their actions.

Frequently asked questions