Flint water crisis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flint River in Downtown Flint ca. 1979
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| Time | April 2014 - present |
|---|---|
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Location | Flint, Michigan |
| Type | Lead contamination crisis |
In 2014, the City of Flint began the undertaking of a water supply switch-over from reliable supplies from the City of Detroit. Initially, the drawing of water from the Flint River was viewed by the City as a temporary fix prior to the City's ultimate switch to a permanent supply which would be provided after the Karegnondi Water Authority’s construction of a pipeline from Lake Huron, thereby eliminating Flint's long-time dependence on Detroit City water.[1]
After the change in water source, the city's drinking water had a series of issues that culminated with lead contamination, creating a serious public health danger. The corrosive Flint River water caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply, causing extremely elevated levels of lead. As a result, residents had severely high levels of lead in the blood and experienced a range of serious health problems. The water may also be a possible cause of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the county that has killed 10 people and affected another 77.
On November 13, 2015, four families filed a federal class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Governor Rick Snyder and thirteen other city and state officials, and three separate people find a similar suit in state court two months later. Separately, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Michigan Attorney General's office opened investigations. In early January 2016, the city was declared to be in a state of emergency by the Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder. In mid-January 2016, President Obama declared the crisis as a federal state of emergency, authorizing additional help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
Three government officials—one from the City of Flint and two from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality—resigned over the mishandling of the crisis, and Snyder issued an apology to citizens.
Contents
Background
Effects of lead exposure
Main article: Lead poisoning
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead exposure.[2]
The CDC reports that for children: "Even low levels of lead in blood
have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. And effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected."[3]Switch in Flint's water supply
Main article: Karegnondi Water Authority
Genesee County had spearheaded the development of the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) to supply it and Lapeer and Sanilac counties—plus the cities of Lapeer and Flint—with water.[4]
On March 25, 2013, Flint City Council approved 7-1 to purchase 16
million gallons per day from the KWA rather than go with Flint River
water as a permanent supply.[5] Flint emergency manager (EM) Ed Kurtz and Mayor Dayne Walling approved the action on March 29 and forward the action for the State Treasurer to approve.[6] The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) sent out a press release demanding the state should block Flint's request as it would hurt Detroit Water and start a water war. The release also put out four options for Flint including sale of raw untreated water. Genesee County Drain Commissioner
Wright replied that: "It would be unprecedented for the state to force
one community to enter into an agreement with another, simply to
artificially help one community at the other's expense. This is exactly
what the (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department) is arguing should be
done." Also, if DWSD were serious that they would contact the
appropriate officials instead of negotiating through the media.[7] On April 15, State Treasurer Andy Dillon gave approval to Kurtz to enter into a water purchase contracts with the KWA.[8] EM Kurtz signed the KWA water purchase agreement on April 16.[9]
On April 17, the Detroit Water and Sewer Department gave its one year
termination notice to the city just days after the County and City
rejected the DWSD' last offer. The DWSD also expected that Flint pay
them for past investments in the water system that benefited regional
customers; Flint and Genesee County rejected such responsibility,
although they indicated willingness to purchase some pipeline. Governor Rick Snyder called a meeting of the three parties for April 19 to discuss those and other issue related to the KWA project.[8]In late April 2014, in an effort to save about $5 million over less than two years,[10][11][12] Flint EM Darnell Earley switched Flint from purchasing treated Lake Huron water from Detroit, as it had done for 50 years, to treating water from the Flint River. The plan was to attach to the Karegnondi system, which was under construction, and would be completed almost three years later. The Flint River had been the designated backup water source for years.[13][14][15]
By December 2014, the city had invested $4 million into its water plant.[16]
Studies
Lead exposure
Virginia Tech engineering professor Marc Edwards, an expert on water quality,
was sent to Flint to study the water supply. His team found extremely
high levels of lead, and Edwards said that authorities' actions "exposes
a new level of arrogance and uncaring that I have never encountered."
While the local outcry about Flint water quality was growing in early 2015, Flint water officials filed papers with state regulators purporting to show that "tests at Flint's water treatment plant had detected no lead and testing in homes had registered lead at acceptable levels."[19] The documents falsely claim that the city had tested tap water from homes with lead service lines, and therefore the highest lead-poisoning risks; in reality; the city does not know the locations of lead service lines, which city officials acknowledged in November 2015 after the Flint Journal/MLive published an article revealing the practice after obtaining documents through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.[20] The Journal/MLive reported that the city had "disregarded federal rules requiring it to seek out homes with lead plumbing for testing, potentially leading the city and state to underestimate for months the extent of toxic lead leaching into Flint's tap water."[20] Only after independent research was conducted by Marc Edwards and a local physician, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, was a public-health emergency declared.[20][19]
In August 2015, three organizations, citing lead levels and other problems, "delivered more than 26,000 online petition signatures to Mayor Dayne Walling, demanding the city end its use of the Flint River and reconnect the city to the Detroit water system."[18]
In September 2015, a team working under Edwards, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech and an expert on municipal water quality who had been sent to study the water supply under a National Science Foundation grant, published a report finding that Flint water was "very corrosive" and "causing lead contamination in homes" and concluding that "Flint River water leaches more lead from plumbing than does Detroit water. This is creating a public health threat in some Flint homes that have lead pipe or lead solder."[18][21][22] Edwards was shocked by the extent of the contamination and by authorities' inaction in the face of their knowledge of the contamination.[22] Volunteer teams led by Edwards found that at least a quarter of Flint households have levels of lead above the federal level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) and that in some homes, lead levels were at 13,200 ppb.[22] Edwards said: "It was the injustice of it all and that the very agencies that are paid to protect these residents from lead in water, knew or should've known after June at the very very latest of this year, that federal law was not being followed in Flint, and that these children and residents were not being protected. And the extent to which they went to cover this up exposes a new level of arrogance and uncaring that I have never encountered."[22]
Research done after the switch to the Flint River source found that the proportion of children with elevated blood-lead levels (above five micrograms per deciliter, or 5 × 10–6 grams per 100 milliliters of blood) rose from 2.1% to 4%, and in some areas to as much as 6.3%.[2]
On September 24, 2015, Hurley Medical Center in Flint released a study, led by Hanna-Attisha, the MPH program director for pediatric residency at the Hurley Children's Hospital, confirming that proportion of infants and children with elevated levels of lead in their blood had nearly doubled since the city switched from the Detroit water system to using the Flint River as its water source.[23][19] Using hospital records, Hanna-Attisha found that a steep rise in blood-lead levels correlated to the city's switch in water sources.[19] The study was initially dismissed by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) spokesman Wurfel, who "repeated a familiar refrain: Repeated testing indicated the water tested within acceptable levels."[19] Later, Wurfel apologized to Hanna-Attisha.[19]
On January 11, 2016, the Virginia Tech research team led by Edwards announced that it had completed its work.[24] Edwards said "We now feel that Flint's kids are finally on their way to being protected and decisive actions are under way to ameliorate the harm that was done."[25] Edwards credited the Michigan ACLU and the group Water You Fighting For with doing the "critical work of collecting and coordinating" many water samples analyzed by the Virginia Tech team.[25] Although the labor of the team (composed of scientists, investigators, graduate students, and undergraduates) was free, the investigation still spent more than $180,000 for such expenses as water testing and payment of Michigan Freedom of Information Act costs. A GoFundMe campaign has raised almost $150,000 for the team.[24][25]
Possible link to Legionnaires' disease spike
On January 13, 2016, Snyder said 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease, a waterborne disease, were reported in Genesee County from June 2014–November 2015, resulting in 10 deaths. Although the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said that there is no evidence of a clear link between the spike in cases and the water system change,[26] Edwards stated the contaminated Flint water could be linked to the spike, telling reporters, "It's very possible that, the conditions in the Flint River water contributed. We've actually predicted earlier this year, that the conditions present in Flint would increase the likelihood of Legionnaires' disease. We wrote a proposal on that to the National Science Foundation that was funded and we visited Flint and did two sampling events. The first one, which was focused on single family homes or smaller businesses. We did not find detectable levels of Legionella bacteria that causes disease, in those buildings. But, during our second trip, we looked at large buildings and we found very high levels of Legionella that tends to cause the disease."[27]On January 15, 2015 The Flint Journal obtained, via the Freedom of Information Act, documents that said, (1) "Worry about the river's possible role as a source of Legionnaires' dates back to at least Oct. 17, 2014, when representatives of the county Health Department and the city's water treatment plant met, discussing the county's "concerns regarding the increase in Legionella cases and possible association with the municipal water system," in a county email. (2) "County health investigators reported they ran into a wall of resistance from the city water officials as they attempted to gather information about possible sources of contamination in Flint's water system". (3) "Information about the Legionnaire's outbreak was shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to an email from an employee with the federal agency from April 2015.", (4) "Communication between the city and the county during the Legionnaires' investigation became so strained that the county resorted to filing a Freedom of Information Act request to get information it sought from the city in January 2015", and, (5) "The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality was aware of the potential connection between Flint water and Legionnaires in early October 2014, but representatives of the agency never discussed the issue publicly". [28]
Responses
Return to Detroit water and cost of infrastructure repairs
In October 2015, the water supply was switched back to Detroit.[29][30] Flint started adding additional orthophosphate, a corrosion inhibitor, to the Detroit water in December 2015 to counteract the corrosion in the pipes caused by the Flint River water.[31]On October 8, 2015, Snyder asked the Michigan Legislature to contribute $6 million of the $12 million in costs for Flint to return to Lake Huron water (from the newly created Great Lakes Water Authority), with the City of Flint paying $2 million and the Flint-based Charles Stewart Mott Foundation paying $4 million.[32][33] State Senator Jim Ananich, who represents Flint, called for the state to refund the $2 million to the city; Ananich also requested further emergency funding from the state and a commitment to long-term funding to address the effects of the lead contamination.[34]
Flint plans to join the new Karegnondi Water Authority after a pipeline from Lake Huron to Flint is completed in mid-2016.[35]
On January 7, 2016, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said that estimates of the cost of fixing water infrastructure in Flint, such as aging pipes, range from millions up to $1.5 billion. These figures encompasses infrastructure alone, excluding any public health costs of the disaster. DEQ interim director Keith Creagh said that estimation of total costs would be premature.[36][37]
State of emergency and emergency responses
On December 15, 2015, Mayor Weaver declared the water issue as a citywide public health state of emergency to prompt help from state and federal officials.[23] Weaver's declaration said that additional funding will be needed for special education, mental health, juvenile justice, and social services because of the behavioral and cognitive impacts of high blood lead levels.[12]It was subsequently declared a countywide emergency by the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, and accepted as both by Governor Rick Snyder on January 5, 2016. [38] Snyder also apologized for the incident.[39]
On January 4, 2016, citing the Flint water crisis, Michigan Representative Phil Phelps, Democrat of Flushing, announced plans to introduce a bill to the Michigan House of Representatives that would make it a felony for state officials to intentionally manipulate or falsify information in official reports, punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.[40]
On January 6, 2016, Snyder ordered the Michigan Emergency Operations Center, operated by the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, to open a Joint Information Center to coordinate public outreach and field questions from the residents about the problems caused by the crisis.[41]
The State Emergency Operations Center recommended that all Flint children under six years old get tested for lead levels as soon as possible, either by a primary care physician or the Genesee County Health Department.[42] The state has set up water resource sites at several public buildings around Flint where residents can pick-up bottled water, water filters, replacement cartridges, and home water testing kits. They also advised residents to call the United Way to receive additional help if needed.[43] Weaver stressed to residents that it was important to also pick up the testing kits, as the city would like to receive at least 500 water test samples per week.[44]
The United Auto Workers union also donated drinking water to Flint via a caravan of trucks to local food banks, and an AmeriCorps team announced that it would deploy to Flint to assist in response efforts.[45]
Starting on January 7, 2016, Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell had work crews of offenders sentenced to community service begin delivering bottled water, water filters and replacement cartridges, primarily to residents living in homes built between 1901 and 1920, whose plumbing systems are most likely leaching lead into the water. The next week, he ordered his department to begin using reverse 911 to advise homebound residents on how to get help. [46]
On January 11, 2016, Snyder signed an executive order creating a new committee to "work on long-term solutions to the Flint water situation and ongoing public health concerns affecting residents."[47]
On January 12, 2016, officers from the Michigan State Police and Genesee County Sheriff's Department started delivering cases of water, water filters, lead testing kits and replacement cartridges to residents who needed them.[48]
The American Red Cross has also been deployed to Flint to deliver bottled water and filters to residents.[49]
Snyder activated the Michigan Army National Guard to assist the Red Cross, starting January 13, 2016.[50] Thirty soldiers were planned to be in Flint by January 15.[51]
On January 14, 2016, it was announced Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha will lead a Flint Pediatric Public Health Initiative that includes experts from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Hurley Children's Hospital, the Genesee County Health Department, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to help Flint children diagnosed with lead poisoning.[52]
In the late evening on January 14, 2016, Snyder asked President Obama to grant a federal emergency/major disaster designation for Genesee County, in order to "protect the health, safety and welfare of Flint residents."[53][51] The request seeks federal financial aid for emergency assistance and infrastructure repair.[54]
Federal government
On January 9, 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent two liaison officers to the Michigan Emergency Operations Center to work with the state to monitor the situation.[55][56] Three days later, Snyder sent a request for additional help from FEMA that "...is aimed at identifying federal agencies that have programs, authorities and technical expertise that could be used in Flint as the city deals with a lead in water crisis."[57]On January 10, 2016, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said on Meet the Press that the White House was "very concerned" with the situation and was monitoring it.[58][59]
On January 12, 2016, Democratic U.S. Representative Dan Kildee from Flint said of Snyder: "It's beyond my comprehension that he continues to treat this as a public relations problem rather than as a public health emergency. Meanwhile, kids in Flint are still being exposed to high levels of lead in the water."[60] Kildee sent a letter to President Obama several days later asking for immediate assistance.[61]
On January 14, 2016, Democratic U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence of Southfield formally requested congressional hearings on the crisis, saying: "We trust our government to protect the health and safety of our communities, and this includes the promise of clean water to drink and clean air to breath." [sic][62]
On January 16, 2016, President Obama signed the emergency declaration for the crisis, while FEMA released a statement that said, "The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Genesee County. FEMA is authorized to provide equipment and resources to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. This emergency assistance is to provide water, water filters, water filter cartridges, water test kits, and other necessary related items for a period of no more than 90 days." [63]
Inquiries, investigations, and resignations
One focus of inquiry is when Snyder became aware of the issue, and how much he knew about it.[64] In a July 2015 email, Dennis Muchmore (then Snyder's chief of staff) wrote to a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) official: "I'm frustrated by the water issue in Flint. I really don't think people are getting the benefit of the doubt. These folks are scared and worried about the health impacts and they are basically getting blown off by us (as a state we're just not sympathizing with their plight)."[64][65] In a separate email sent on July 22, 2015, MDHHS local health services director Mark Miller wrote to colleagues that it "Sounds like the issue is old lead service lines."[65] These emails were obtained under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act by Virginia Tech researchers studying the crisis, and were released to the public in the first week of January 2016.[65]In October 2015, it was reported that the city government's data on lead water lines in the city was stored on 45,000 index cards (some dating back a century) located in filing cabinets in Flint’s public utility building.[66][67] The Department of Public Works said that it was trying to transition the data into an electronic spreadsheet program, but as of October 1, 2015, only about 25% of the index card information had been digitized.[66]
On October 21, 2015, Snyder announced the creation of a five-member Flint Water Advisory Task Force, consisting of Ken Sikkema of Public Sector Consultants and Chris Kolb of the Michigan Environmental Council (co-chairs) and Dr. Matthew Davis of the University of Michigan Health System, Eric Rothstein of the Galardi Rothstein Group and Dr. Lawrence Reynolds of Mott Children's Health Center in Flint.[68] In December 29, 2015, the Task Force released its preliminary report, saying that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) bore ultimate blame for the Flint water crisis.[69][70] The task force wrote that the DEQ's Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance (ODWMA) adopted a "minimalist technical compliance approach" to water safety, which was "unacceptable and simply insufficient to the task of public protection."[69] The task force also found that "Throughout 2015, as the public raised concerns and as independent studies and testing were conducted and brought to the attention of MDEQ, the agency's response was often one of aggressive dismissal, belittlement, and attempts to discredit these efforts and the individuals involved. We find both the tone and substance of many MDEQ public statements to be completely unacceptable."[69] The task force also found that the Michigan DEQ has failed to follow the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).[69] That rule requires "optimized corrosion control treatment," but DEQ staff instructed City of Flint water treatment staff that corrosion control treatment (CCT) would not be necessary for a year.[69] The task force found that "the decision not to require CCT, made at the direction of the MDEQ, led directly to the contamination of the Flint water system."[69]
The task force's findings prompted the resignation of DEQ director Dan Wyant and communications director Brad Wurfel.[71][72] Flint Department of Public Works director Howard Croft also resigned.[73]
On January 8, 2016, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said that it was investigating.[12]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "battled Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality behind the scenes for at least six months over whether Flint needed to use chemical treatments to keep lead lines and plumbing connections from leaching into drinking water" and "did not publicize its concern that Flint residents' health was jeopardized by the state's insistence that such controls were not required by law.[74] In 2015, EPA water expert Miguel Del Toral "identified potential problems with Flint's drinking water in February, confirmed the suspicions in April and summarized the looming problem" in an internal memo circulated on June 24, 2015.[74] The Del Toral memo was not publicly released until November 2015, after a revision and vetting process.[74] In the interim, the EPA and the Michigan DEQ engaged in a dispute on how to interpret the Lead and Copper Rule. According to EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman, the EPA pushed to immediately implement corrosion controls in the interests of public health, while the Michigan DEQ sought to delay a decision on corrosion control until two six-month periods of sampling had been completed.[74] In an interview with the Detroit News published on January 12, 2016, Hedman said: "Let's be clear, the recommendation to DEQ (regarding the need for corrosion controls) occurred at higher and higher levels during this time period,” Hedman said in a Detroit News interview. “And the answer kept coming back from DEQ that 'no, we are not going to make a decision until after we see more testing results.'"[74] Hedman said the EPA did not go public with its concerns earlier because (1) state and local governments have primary responsibility for drinking water quality and safety; (2) there was insufficient evidence at that point of the extent of the danger; and (3) the EPA's legal authority to compel the state to take action was unclear, and the EPA discussed the issue with its legal counsel, who only rendered an opinion in November.[74] Hedman said the EPA discussed the issue with its legal counsel and urged the state to have MDHHS warn residents about the danger.[74]
Assessments of the EPA's action varied. Marc Edwards, who investigated the lead contamination, said that the assessment in Del Toral's original June memo was "100 percent accurate" and criticized the EPA for failing to take more immediate action.[74] State Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, Democrat of Flint, said, "There’s been a failure at all levels to accurately assess the scale of the public health crisis in Flint, and that problem is ongoing. However, the EPA's Miguel Del Toral did excellent work in trying to expose this disaster. Anyone who read his memo and failed to act should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."[74]
On January 15, 2016, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced his office will open an investigation into the crisis, saying the situation in Flint "is a human tragedy in which families are struggling with even the most basic parts of daily life."[75][76]
Lawsuits
On November 13, 2015, four families filed a federal class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Governor Rick Snyder and thirteen other city and state officials, including former Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and ex-emergency financial manager Darnell Earley, who was in charge of the city when the switch to the Flint River was made. The complaint alleges that the officials acted recklessly and negligently, leading to serious injuries from lead poisoning, including autoimmune disorders, skin lesions, and "brain fog."[77][78][79] The complaint says that the officials' conduct was "reckless and outrageous" and "shocks the conscience and was deliberately indifferent to ... constitutional rights."[79]On January 14, 2016, a separate class-action lawsuit against Snyder, the State of Michigan, the City of Flint, Earley, Walling, and Croft was filed by three Flint residents in Michigan Circuit Court in Genesee County.[80][81]
Media and other responses
On October 8, 2015, the editorial board of the Detroit Free Press wrote that the crisis was "an obscene failure of government" and criticized Snyder.[82]On December 31, 2015, the editorial board of the MLive group of Michigan newspapers called upon Snyder to "drop executive privilege and release all of his communications on Flint water," establish a procedure for compensating families with children suffering from elevated lead blood levels, and return Flint to local control.[83]
In January 2016, the watchdog group Common Cause also called upon Snyder to release all documents related to the Flint water crisis. (The governor's office is not subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act).[84]
The documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, a native of Flint, called for Snyder's arrest for mishandling the water crisis in an open letter to the governor, writing: "The facts are all there, Mr. Snyder. Every agency involved in this scheme reported directly to you. The children of Flint didn't have a choice as to whether or not they were going to get to drink clean water." A spokesman for the governor called Moore's call "inflammatory."[85][86] Later, after hearing of the Legionnaires outbreak, he said "And now, murder. BREAKING: 10 people dead in Flint from Legionnaires Disease. Flint River water suspected. No arrests yet." [87]
A number of commentators framed the crisis in terms of human rights, writing that authorities' handling of the issue denied residents their right to clean water.[64][88]
Columnist Shaun King termed the disaster "one of the worst cases of environmental racism in modern American history," writing: "What we have here is a horrific clash of race, class, politics and public health."[89]
The water disaster called attention to the problem of aging and seriously neglected water infrastructure nationwide.[90]
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said of the crisis "The people of Flint deserve to know the truth about how this happened and what Governor Snyder and other leaders knew about it. And they deserve a solution, fast. Thousands of children may have been exposed to lead, which could irreversibly harm their health and brain functioning. Plus, this catastrophe -- which was caused by a zeal to save money at all costs -- could actually cost $1.5 billion in infrastructure repairs." [91] Clinton later told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow (who has extensively covered the crisis since late December 2015), ""This is infuriating to me. I did a lot of work on trying to get rid of lead in residential housing in Upstate New York. I care deeply about this issue. We know it has effects on behavior and educational attainment. So when you test kids, we need to provide it quickly, whatever health care they can get, whatever kind of anecdote is possible. And we need to have a fund for education because some of these kids, if they've been too exposed, the damage may be irreversible. And we're going to have to do more to help them actually learn." [92]
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich said of the crisis on her Facebook page, "This is a growing national concern... the answer is likely YES. Legionella bacteria is transported by biofouled drinking water distribution systems, which Flint's clearly is. Once again... I beg, plead... cry for the USEPA to get into the Flint drinking water investigation and stop with the denial; your continued silence has proven deadly." [87]
On January 16, 2016, Democratic U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders posted a message on his website calling for Snyder's resignation. [93]
See also
- Drinking water quality in the United States
- Lead contamination in Washington, D.C. drinking water
- Lead and Copper Rule
References
The move by Flint comes in the midst of the Karegnondi Water Authority’s construction of a pipeline from Lake Huron to Genesee County. Flint will use the Flint River until the KWA pipeline is complete sometime in 2016. City officials were hoping to turn off the water supply from Detroit for good sometime Thursday, April 24, but that didn’t happen. “We’re not flipping the switch today,” city Spokesman Jason Lorenz said Thursday. Cit officials originally planned to begin using the the river exclusively for water by Monday, April 21.
- Sanders: Michigan Governor Must Resign over Flint Lead-Poisoning Crisis Bernie Sanders official site, January 16, 2016
External links
 Water crisis in Flint, Michigan, draws federal investigation, CNN, Greg Botelho, Sarah Jorgensen and Joseph Netto, January 9, 2016 |
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| How Flint, Michigan, Saved Money and Poisoned Its Children: City Declares Water Emergency, Democracy Now, December 17, 2015 |
- Taking Action on Flint Water - official Michigan Department of Environmental Quality website
- Flintwaterstudy.org - official website of Dr. Marc Edwards' Virginia Tech Research Team, which investigated the lead contamination
- Articles on the Flint water crisis from MLive
Categories:
- Flint, Michigan
- Lead poisoning
- Cover-ups
- Health in Michigan
- Health disasters in the United States
- Environment of Michigan
- Water supply and sanitation in the United States
- 2015 health disasters
- 2015 in the environment
- 2015 in Michigan
- 2015 disasters in the United States
- 2016 health disasters
- 2016 in the environment
- 2016 in Michigan
- 2016 disasters in the United States
- Economy of Flint, Michigan
Defendants’ conduct in exposing Flint residents to toxic water was so egregious and so outrageous that it shocks the conscience.
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