Brian Barton
The Flint River has been polluted for over a century. The first instance of pollution occurred in the 1830s with the introduction of industrial waste from the lumber mills. As Flint's economy evolved from lumber to paper, and finally to automobiles, the river became increasingly contaminated. Despite the departure of heavy industry and local cleanup efforts, the river remained exceptionally polluted. In 2014, during a financial crisis, Flint switched its water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint River, resulting in a public health crisis. This decision led to inadequate treatment and testing of the water, causing various health issues for residents, including lead poisoning, skin rashes, and possible exposure to Legionella bacteria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the switch to Flint River water | April 2014 |
| Date of the switch back to Detroit water | October 2015 |
| Reason for the switch | To save $5 million in two years |
| Water quality issues | Foul smell, discoloured, off-tasting, caused skin rashes, hair loss, itchy skin |
| Contaminants | Lead, Legionella bacteria, carcinogens |
| Water treatment issues | Lack of corrosion inhibitors, inadequate treatment and testing |
| Health consequences | Lead poisoning, skin rashes, behavioural health issues, anxiety, depression |
| River pollution sources | Natural biological waste, treated/untreated industrial and human waste, contaminants from rain/snow, sewage discharges, heavy use of fertilizers |
| Historical context | Industrial activities since the 1830s, decline of the automobile industry in the 1980s, financial crisis in 2011 |
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What You'll Learn
The switch to the Flint River
The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis that lasted from 2014 to 2019. It involved the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, becoming contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria. The crisis was caused by a switch in the city's water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), which sourced water from Lake Huron and the Detroit River, to the Flint River. This decision was made by a state-appointed emergency manager, Darnell Earley, in April 2014, during a financial crisis in Flint. The goal was to save about $5 million over two years.
The Flint River had a long history of pollution, dating back to the 1830s when industrial waste was first introduced by lumber mills. Over the years, various industries, including paper mills and chemical processing plants, contributed to the pollution of the river. Despite this, the city of Flint had drawn its drinking and industrial water from the river since 1893. In the 1970s, after the passage of the Clean Water Act, studies showed improvement upstream but significant toxins downstream. Raw sewage discharges, phenol from GM plants, and ammonia from wastewater plants contributed to toxic materials in the water.
In June 2014, Earley finalized the sale of a nine-mile section of the DWSD water pipeline to Genesee County for $3.9 million. This pipeline had fed DWSD water into the county, and after the sale, it would also service the eastern part of the county. By December 2014, the city had invested $4 million into its water plant. On July 1, 2014, Earley gave operational authority over the Public Works department to Mayor Dayne Walling. It was later reported that by not adding a corrosion inhibitor, the city was saving about $140 per day.
Soon after the switch to the Flint River, residents began complaining about the colour, taste, and odour of their water. Officials maintained that the water was safe, but residents continued to protest, even bringing jugs of discoloured water to city hall. In May 2014, residents informed officials that the water was causing rashes, especially in children. A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech in 2015 revealed that water samples collected from 252 homes indicated citywide lead levels had spiked, with nearly 17% of samples registering above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). More than 40% measured above 5 ppb of lead, which was considered a "very serious" problem.
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Contaminants in the water
The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis from 2014 to 2019, during which the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, was contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria. The crisis was caused by a switch in the city's water source from Detroit's water system, supplied by Lake Huron, to the Flint River. This decision was made during a financial crisis and was intended to save the city around $5 million over two years.
The Flint River has been a source of pollution for well over a century. As industries along its shores evolved, so did the pollution in the river. In the 1830s, industrial waste was introduced into the river with the establishment of the first lumber mills. This was followed by paper mills and chemical processing plants. By the 1930s, fish began to disappear from the river, and a study in 1974 showed significant toxins downstream, including raw sewage discharges, phenol from GM plants, and ammonia from wastewater plants.
The switch to the Flint River as the primary water source in April 2014 resulted in water that looked, smelled, and tasted foul. Residents reported skin rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin. Despite these complaints, officials maintained that the water was safe. However, a study conducted by Virginia Tech in 2015 revealed that lead levels in the water had spiked, with nearly 17% of samples registering above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). This was due to the omission of corrosion inhibitors, which caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply.
The contamination of the water supply had profound effects on the health and well-being of Flint residents. Lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage, slow growth and development, and result in learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems, especially in children. The crisis also led to a loss of trust in government officials and impacted the region's economy.
In October 2015, the city switched back to the Detroit water system, and efforts were made to add additional orthophosphate to the water to rebuild the pipe lining. However, the potential damage had already been done, and a state of emergency was declared in January 2016.
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Inadequate treatment and testing
In April 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan, changed its water source from Detroit's water system (sourced from Lake Huron and the Detroit River) to the Flint River. This decision was made during a financial crisis to save the city about $5 million over two years.
The Flint River had been used as an unofficial waste disposal site for over a century, with industrial waste being introduced as early as the 1830s. Despite this history, and the river's reputation as exceptionally polluted, the city switched its water source without sufficient pilot testing and corrosion studies.
The water treatment plant in Flint was also ill-equipped to handle the new water source. Emails sent before the switch warned that staffing and monitoring plans were inadequate, and the plant had not been fully operational for almost 50 years.
After the switch, residents immediately complained about the colour, taste, and odour of their water. Officials, however, maintained that the water was safe and dismissed claims that it was making people sick. A year later, in 2015, a study by Virginia Tech researchers found that water samples from 252 homes had lead levels above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. This was due to the corrosive nature of the water, which was causing lead to leach from aging pipes.
In October 2015, following the confirmation of lead contamination in the water supply, Flint switched back to the Detroit water system.
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Health issues for residents
The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis from 2014 to 2019, which involved the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, being contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria. The crisis was caused by switching the water supply from Detroit's water system, sourced from Lake Huron, to the Flint River in April 2014. This decision was made during a financial crisis by a state-appointed emergency manager, Darnell Earley, to save about $5 million over two years.
Soon after the switch, residents started complaining about the colour, taste, and odour of their water, as well as skin rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin. Despite these protests, officials maintained that the water was safe. However, a study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech in collaboration with citizen scientists revealed that water samples collected from 252 homes indicated citywide lead levels had spiked, with nearly 17% of samples registering above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
The high lead levels in the water had severe health consequences for the residents of Flint, particularly children. Lead exposure can damage children's brains and nervous systems, leading to slow growth and development, and result in learning, behaviour, hearing, and speech problems. In September 2015, a study by Hurley Medical Center in Flint confirmed that the proportion of infants and children with elevated levels of lead in their blood had nearly doubled since the switch to the Flint River water source.
In addition to the physical health issues, the crisis also took a toll on the behavioural health of Flint residents. A Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) conducted in May 2016 found that 66% of households reported one or more adult members experiencing at least one behavioural health issue "more than usual", and 54% reported that at least one child in the household was experiencing similar issues. The specific concerns included feelings of anxiety or depression and substance abuse.
The crisis also led to a federal emergency declaration in January 2016, and the city was advised to use only filtered water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. The city switched back to the Detroit water system on October 16, 2015, but the potential damage to residents' health had already been done. The total health consequences of the crisis may not be known for years.
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Government response and oversight
The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis from 2014 to 2019, which involved the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, being contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria. In April 2014, during a financial crisis, the state-appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley changed Flint's water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) (sourced from Lake Huron and the Detroit River) to the Flint River.
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission, a state-established body, concluded that the poor governmental response to the Flint crisis was a "result of systemic racism". The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found that the Flint River water did not contribute to the increase in infant deaths and stillbirths in Flint.
In August 2015, it was found that local organizations observed that high concentrations of chloride caused the water to be orange and that the water contained high levels of lead. The lead levels were caused by the omission of orthophosphate treatments, which led to excessive pipe corrosion. Consequently, the three organizations delivered more than 26,000 online petition signatures to Mayor Dayne Walling, demanding the city end its use of the Flint River and reconnect to the Detroit water system.
In October 2015, Flint switched back to the Detroit water system. However, the crisis had already led to the death of twelve individuals and left more than 90 people sick by various diseases, including Legionnaires' disease.
In January 2016, U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence formally requested congressional hearings on the crisis. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform began their hearings on the crisis on February 3, 2016. New criminal charges were filed against former governor Rick Snyder and eight other officials by the state of Michigan on January 13, 2021, for their roles in the water crisis.
In July 2025, a major milestone was reached, with the city completing the pipe replacement program required by the settlement agreement. In total, workers excavated more than 28,000 pipes and replaced nearly 11,000 lead pipes in Flint.
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Frequently asked questions
The pollution in the Flint River has been going on for well over a century.
The Flint water crisis started in April 2014 when the city changed its water supply from Detroit's system, tapping Lake Huron, to the Flint River.
The city of Flint switched its water supply to save about $5 million in two years.
The consequences of switching the water supply in Flint included lead poisoning, skin rashes, and carcinogens in the water.
The long-term effects of the Flint water crisis included a profound impact on the level of trust within the community and the state, the economy of the region, and the health and well-being of the residents of Flint and the surrounding communities.
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