Flint Water Crisis - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

1/20/2016 Flint water crisis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flintwatercrisis
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
TheFlintwatercrisisisanongoingdrinkingwater
contaminationcrisisinFlint,Michigan,intheUnitedStates. Flintwatercrisis
In2014,theCityofFlintswitcheditswatersupplyfromthe
CityofDetroit(whichhadsupplieditfornearlyhalfa
century)totheFlintRiver.Themovewasanefforttosave
costs.Itwasviewedasatemporaryfixpriortoanultimate
switchtoapermanentFlintwatersupply,whichwouldbe
providedaftertheKaregnondiWaterAuthority's
constructionofapipelinefromLakeHuron,thereby
eliminatingFlint'slongtimedependenceonDetroitcity
FlintRiverinDowntownFlintca.1979
water.[2]
Time April2014present
Afterthechangeinwatersource,thecity'sdrinkingwater
Duration Ongoing
hadaseriesofissuesthatculminatedwithleadcontamination,
creatingaseriouspublichealthdanger.ThecorrosiveFlint Location Flint,Michigan,UnitedStates
Riverwatercausedleadfromagingpipestoleachintothe Type Leadcontaminationcrisis
watersupply,causingextremelyelevatedlevelsoflead.Asa PossibleLegionnaires'disease
result,between6,000and12,000residentshadseverelyhigh outbreak
levelsofleadinthebloodandexperiencedarangeofserious
Outcome Publichealthstateofemergency
healthproblems.[1]Thewaterchangeisalsoapossiblecause
ofanoutbreakofLegionnaires'diseaseinthecountythathas Fivelawsuits
Severalinvestigations
killed10peopleandaffectedanother77.[3]
Resignationofthreegovernment
OnNovember13,2015,fourfamiliesfiledafederalclass officials
actionlawsuitintheU.S.DistrictCourtfortheEastern Nonfatal Between6,00012,000 [1]
DistrictofMichiganinDetroitagainstGovernorRickSnyder injuries
andthirteenothercityandstateofficials,andthreeseparate
peoplefiledasimilarsuitinstatecourttwomonthslater,and
threemorelawsuitswerefiledafterthat.Separately,theU.S.Attorney'sOfficefortheEasternDistrictofMichigan
andtheMichiganAttorneyGeneral'sofficeopenedinvestigations.OnJanuary5,2016,thecitywasdeclaredtobe
inastateofemergencybytheGovernorofMichigan,beforePresidentObamadeclaredthecrisisasafederalstate
ofemergency,authorizingadditionalhelpfromtheFederalEmergencyManagementAgencyandtheDepartmentof
HomelandSecuritylessthantwoweekslater.
ThreegovernmentofficialsonefromtheCityofFlintandtwofromtheMichiganDepartmentofEnvironmental
Qualityresignedoverthemishandlingofthecrisis,andSnyderissuedanapologytocitizens.
Contents
1 Background
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis 1/19
1.1 HistoryofFlintwatersupply
1.1.1 Before2014
1.1.2 Switchinsourcein2014
2 Studies
2.1 Leadexposure
2.2 PossiblelinktoLegionnaires'diseasespike
3 Responses
3.1 ReturntoDetroitwater
3.2 Costsofinfrastructurerepairsandmedicaltreatment
3.3 Stateofemergencyandemergencyresponses
3.4 Inquiries,investigations,andresignations
3.5 Lawsuits
3.6 Politicalresponses
3.7 Mediaandotherresponses
4 Seealso
5 Notes
6 References
7 Externallinks
Background
HistoryofFlintwatersupply
Before2014
Flintbuiltitsfirstwatertreatmentplant(nowdefunct)in1917.Thecitybuiltasecondplantin1952.In1967,the
citystoppedtreatingitsownwaterandbeganpurchasingitfromtheCityofDetroit.[4][5]
AtthetimeofFlint'spopulationpeakandeconomicheight(whenthecitywasthecenteroftheautomobile
industry),Flint'splantspumped100milliongallonsofwaterperday.Withthedeclineofthecity'sindustryanda
significantdropinthethecity'spopulation(fromalmost200,000in1960toabout99,000today),Flintpumped
lesswater.ByOctober2014,whentheFlintplantendedoperations,itpumpedjust16milliongallonsdaily.[4]
Switchinsourcein2014
Startingin2010,GeneseeCountyhadspearheadedthedevelopmentoftheKaregnondiWaterAuthority(KWA)
tosupplyitandLapeerandSanilaccountiesplusthecitiesofLapeerandFlintwithwater.[6]OnMarch25,
2013,FlintCityCouncilapproved71topurchase16milliongallonsperdayfromtheKWAratherthangowith
FlintRiverwaterasapermanentsupply.[7]Flintemergencymanager(EM)EdKurtzandMayorDayneWalling
approvedtheactiononMarch29andforwardtheactionfortheStateTreasurertoapprove.[8]
TheDetroitWaterandSewerageDepartment(DWSD)sentoutapressreleasedemandingthestateshouldblock
Flint'srequestasitwouldhurtDetroitWaterandstartawaterwar.ThereleasealsoputoutfouroptionsforFlint
includingsaleofrawuntreatedwater.GeneseeCountyDraincommissionerWright,afteraccusingtheDWSDof
negotiatingthroughthemedia,replied,"Itwouldbeunprecedentedforthestatetoforceonecommunitytoenter
intoanagreementwithanother,simplytoartificiallyhelponecommunityattheother'sexpense.Thisisexactlywhat
the(DetroitWaterandSewerageDepartment)isarguingshouldbedone."[9]
Still,onApril15,StateTreasurerAndyDillongaveapprovaltoKurtztoenterintoawaterpurchasecontractswith
theKWA.[10]EMKurtzsignedtheKWAwaterpurchaseagreementonApril16.[11]OnApril17,theDetroit
WaterandSewerDepartmentgaveitsoneyearterminationnoticetothecityjustdaysaftertheCountyandCity
rejectedtheDWSD'lastoffer.TheDWSDalsoexpectedthatFlintpaythemforpastinvestmentsinthewater
systemthatbenefitedregionalcustomersFlintandGeneseeCountyrejectedsuchresponsibility,althoughthey
indicatedwillingnesstopurchasesomepipeline.GovernorRickSnydercalledameetingofthethreepartiesfor
April19todiscussthoseandotherissuerelatedtotheKWAproject.[10]
InlateApril2014,inanefforttosaveabout$5millionoverlessthantwoyears,[11][12][13]thecityswitchedfrom
purchasingtreatedLakeHuronwaterfromDetroit,asithaddonefor50years,totreatingwaterfromtheFlint
River.TheplanwastoattachtotheKaregnondisystem,whichwasunderconstruction,andwouldbecompleted
almostthreeyearslater.TheFlintRiverhadbeenthedesignatedbackupwatersourceforyears.[14][15]By
December2014,thecityhadinvested$4millionintoitswaterplant.[16]
Studies
Leadexposure
InJanuary2015,apublicmeetingwasheld,wherecitizenscomplainedaboutthe"badwater."[17]Residents
complainedaboutthetaste,smellandappearanceofthewaterfor18monthsbeforeaFlintphysicianfoundhighly
elevatedbloodleadlevelsinthechildrenofFlintwhiletheMichiganDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualityinsisted
thewaterwassafetodrink.[18]Itwasdeterminedthatriverwater,which
ismorecorrosivethanlakewater,wasleachingleadfromagingpipes.[19]
WhilethelocaloutcryaboutFlintwaterqualitywasgrowinginearly
2015,Flintwaterofficialsfiledpaperswithstateregulatorspurportingto
showthat"testsatFlint'swatertreatmentplanthaddetectednoleadand
testinginhomeshadregisteredleadatacceptablelevels."[20]The
documentsfalselyclaimthatthecityhadtestedtapwaterfromhomes
withleadservicelines,andthereforethehighestleadpoisoningrisksin
realitythecitydoesnotknowthelocationsofleadservicelines,which
cityofficialsacknowledgedinNovember2015aftertheFlint
Journal/MLivepublishedanarticlerevealingthepracticeafterobtaining
documentsthroughtheMichiganFreedomofInformationAct.[21]The
Journal/MLivereportedthatthecityhad"disregardedfederalrules
requiringittoseekouthomeswithleadplumbingfortesting,potentially
leadingthecityandstatetounderestimateformonthstheextentoftoxic
leadleachingintoFlint'stapwater."[21]Onlyafterindependentresearch
wasconductedbyMarcEdwardsandalocalphysician,Dr.Mona
HannaAttisha,wasapublichealthemergencydeclared.[21][20]
VirginiaTechengineeringprofessor
InAugust2015,threeorganizations,citingleadlevelsandother MarcEdwards,anexpertonwater
problems,"deliveredmorethan26,000onlinepetitionsignaturesto quality,wassenttoFlinttostudythe
MayorDayneWalling,demandingthecityenditsuseoftheFlintRiver watersupply.Histeamfound
andreconnectthecitytotheDetroitwatersystem."[19] extremelyhighlevelsoflead,and
Edwardssaidthatauthorities'actions
InSeptember2015,ateamworkingunderEdwards,anengineering "exposesanewlevelofarrogance
professoratVirginiaTechandanexpertonmunicipalwaterqualitywho anduncaringthatIhavenever
hadbeensenttostudythewatersupplyunderaNationalScience encountered."
Foundationgrant,publishedareportfindingthatFlintwaterwas"very
corrosive"and"causingleadcontaminationinhomes"andconcludingthat"FlintRiverwaterleachesmoreleadfrom
plumbingthandoesDetroitwater.ThisiscreatingapublichealththreatinsomeFlinthomesthathaveleadpipeor
leadsolder."[19][22][23]Edwardswasshockedbytheextentofthecontaminationandbyauthorities'inactioninthe
faceoftheirknowledgeofthecontamination.[23]VolunteerteamsledbyEdwardsfoundthatatleastaquarterof
Flinthouseholdshavelevelsofleadabovethefederallevelof15partsperbillion(ppb)andthatinsomehomes,
leadlevelswereat13,200ppb.[23]Edwardssaid:"Itwastheinjusticeofitallandthattheveryagenciesthatare
paidtoprotecttheseresidentsfromleadinwater,kneworshould'veknownafterJuneattheveryverylatestofthis
year,thatfederallawwasnotbeingfollowedinFlint,andthatthesechildrenandresidentswerenotbeing
protected.AndtheextenttowhichtheywenttocoverthisupexposesanewlevelofarroganceanduncaringthatI
haveneverencountered."[23]
ResearchdoneaftertheswitchtotheFlintRiversourcefoundthattheproportionofchildrenwithelevatedblood
leadlevels(abovefivemicrogramsperdeciliter,or5106gramsper100millilitersofblood)rosefrom2.1%to
4%,andinsomeareastoasmuchas6.3%.[24]
OnSeptember24,2015,HurleyMedicalCenterinFlintreleasedastudy,ledbyHannaAttisha,theMPH
programdirectorforpediatricresidencyattheHurleyChildren'sHospital,confirmingthatproportionofinfantsand
childrenwithelevatedlevelsofleadintheirbloodhadnearlydoubledsincethecityswitchedfromtheDetroitwater
systemtousingtheFlintRiverasitswatersource.[25][20]Usinghospitalrecords,HannaAttishafoundthatasteep
riseinbloodleadlevelscorrelatedtothecity'sswitchinwatersources.[20]Thestudywasinitiallydismissedby
MichiganDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality(DEQ)spokesmanWurfel,who"repeatedafamiliarrefrain:
Repeatedtestingindicatedthewatertestedwithinacceptablelevels."[20]Later,WurfelapologizedtoHanna
Attisha.[20]
OnJanuary11,2016,theVirginiaTechresearchteamledbyEdwardsannouncedthatithadcompletedits
work.[26]Edwardssaid"WenowfeelthatFlint'skidsarefinallyontheirwaytobeingprotectedanddecisive
actionsareunderwaytoamelioratetheharmthatwasdone."[27]EdwardscreditedtheMichiganACLUandthe
groupWaterYouFightingForwithdoingthe"criticalworkofcollectingandcoordinating"manywatersamples
analyzedbytheVirginiaTechteam.[27]Althoughthelaboroftheteam(composedofscientists,investigators,
graduatestudents,andundergraduates)wasfree,theinvestigationstillspentmorethan$180,000forsuchexpenses
aswatertestingandpaymentofMichiganFreedomofInformationActcosts.AGoFundMecampaignhasraised
almost$3,010ofthe$150,000neededfortheteamtorecoveritscosts.[26][27]
PossiblelinktoLegionnaires'diseasespike
OnJanuary13,2016,Snydersaid87casesofLegionnaires'disease,awaterbornedisease,werereportedin
GeneseeCountyfromJune2014November2015,resultingin10deaths.AlthoughtheMichiganDepartmentof
HealthandHumanServices(MDHHS)saidthatthereisnoevidenceofaclearlinkbetweenthespikeincasesand
thewatersystemchange,[3]EdwardsstatedthecontaminatedFlintwatercouldbelinkedtothespike,telling
reporters,"It'sverypossiblethat,theconditionsintheFlintRiverwatercontributed.We'veactuallypredicted
earlierthisyear,thattheconditionspresentinFlintwouldincreasethelikelihoodofLegionnaires'disease.We
wroteaproposalonthattotheNationalScienceFoundationthatwasfundedandwevisitedFlintanddidtwo
samplingevents.Thefirstone,whichwasfocusedonsinglefamilyhomesorsmallerbusinesses.Wedidnotfind
detectablelevelsofLegionellabacteriathatcausesdisease,inthosebuildings.But,duringoursecondtrip,we
lookedatlargebuildingsandwefoundveryhighlevelsofLegionellathattendstocausethedisease."[28]
TheFlintJournalobtaineddocumentsviatheMichiganFreedomofInformationAct(FOIA)ontheLegionnaires'
outbreakandpublishedanarticleonthemonJanuary16,2016.ThedocumentsindicatedthatonOctober17,
2014,employeesoftheGeneseeCountyHealthDepartmentandtheFlintwatertreatmentplantmettodiscussthe
county's"concernsregardingtheincreaseinLegionellacasesandpossibleassociationwiththemunicipalwater
system."[29]AninternalJanuary27,2015emailfromasupervisoratthehealthdepartmentsaidthattheFlintwater
treatmentplanthadnotrespondedinmonthsto"multiplewrittenandverbalrequests"forinformation.[29]InJanuary
2015,followingthecompletebreakdownincommunicationbetweenthecityandthecountyontheLegionnaires'
investigation,thecountyfiledaFOIArequestwiththecity,seeking"specificwatertestinglocationsandlaboratory
results...forcoliform,Ecoli,HeterotropicBacteriaandtrihalomethanes"andotherinformation.[29]Byearly
October2014,theMichiganDEQwereawareofapossiblelinkbetweenthewaterinFlintandtheLegionnaires'
outbreak,butthepublicwasneverinformed,andtheagencygaveassurancesaboutwatersafetyinpublic
statementsandatpublicforums.[29]InApril2015,thecountyhealthdepartmentcontactedtheCentersforDisease
ControlandPrevention(CDC),andinApril2015aCDCemployeewroteinanemailthattheLegionnaire's
outbreakwas"verylarge,oneofthelargestweknowofinthepastdecadeandcommunitywide,andinour
opinionandexperienceitneedsacomprehensiveinvestigation."[29]However,MDHHStoldthecountyhealth
departmentatthetimethatfederalassistancewasnotnecessary.[29]
Responses
ReturntoDetroitwater
InOctober2015,thewatersupplywasswitchedbacktoDetroit.[30][31]Flintstartedaddingadditional
orthophosphate,acorrosioninhibitor,totheDetroitwaterinDecember2015tocounteractthecorrosioninthe
pipescausedbytheFlintRiverwater.[32]
OnOctober8,SnyderaskedtheMichiganLegislaturetocontribute$6millionofthe$12millionincostsforFlintto
returntoLakeHuronwater(fromthenewlycreatedGreatLakesWaterAuthority),withtheCityofFlintpaying$2
millionandtheFlintbasedCharlesStewartMottFoundationpaying$4million.[33][34]StateSenatorJimAnanich,
whorepresentsFlint,calledforthestatetorefundthe$2milliontothecityAnanichalsorequestedfurther
emergencyfundingfromthestateandacommitmenttolongtermfundingtoaddresstheeffectsofthelead
contamination.[35]
FlintplanstojointhenewKaregnondiWaterAuthorityafterapipelinefromLakeHurontoFlintiscompletedin
mid2016.[36]
Costsofinfrastructurerepairsandmedicaltreatment
OnJanuary7,2016,FlintMayorKarenWeaversaidthatestimatesofthecostoffixingwaterinfrastructureinFlint,
suchasagingpipes,rangefrommillionsupto$1.5billion.Thesefiguresencompassesinfrastructurealone,
excludinganypublichealthcostsofthedisaster.DEQinterimdirectorKeithCreaghsaidthatestimationoftotal
costswouldbepremature.[37][38]
OnJanuary18,theUnitedWayofGeneseeCountyestimated6,00012,000childrenhavebeenexposedtolead
poisoningandkickedoffafundraisingcampaigntoraise$100millionovera1015yearspanfortheirmedical
treatment.[1]
AthisannualStateoftheStateAddressonJanuary19,Snyderapologizedagain,andpromisedFlintanadditional
$28millioninfundingforfilters,replacementcartridges,bottledwater,moreschoolnursesandadditional
interventionspecialists.Italsowillfundlabtesting,corrosioncontrolprocedures,astudyofwatersystem
infrastructure,potentiallyhelpFlintdealwithunpaidwaterbills,casemanagementofpeoplewithelevatedlead
bloodlevels,assessmentofpotentiallinkagestootherdiseases,crisiscounselingandmentalhealthservices,andthe
replacementofplumbingfixturesinschools,childcarecenters,nursinghomesandmedicalfacilities.[39]
Stateofemergencyandemergencyresponses
OnDecember15,2015,MayorWeaverdeclaredthewaterissueasacitywidepublichealthstateofemergencyto
prompthelpfromstateandfederalofficials.[25]Weaver'sdeclarationsaidthatadditionalfundingwillbeneededfor
specialeducation,mentalhealth,juvenilejustice,andsocialservicesbecauseofthebehavioralandcognitive
impactsofhighbloodleadlevels.[13]
ItwassubsequentlydeclaredacountywideemergencybytheGeneseeCountyBoardofCommissioners,and
acceptedasbothbyGovernorRickSnyderonJanuary5,2016.[40]Snyderalsoapologizedfortheincident.[41]
OnJanuary6,SnyderorderedtheMichiganEmergencyOperationsCenter,operatedbytheMichiganStatePolice
EmergencyManagementandHomelandSecurityDivision,toopenaJointInformationCentertocoordinatepublic
outreachandfieldquestionsfromtheresidentsabouttheproblemscausedbythecrisis.[42]TheStateEmergency
OperationsCenterrecommendedthatallFlintchildrenundersixyearsoldgettestedforleadlevelsassoonas
possible,eitherbyaprimarycarephysicianortheGeneseeCountyHealthDepartment.[43]Thestatehassetup
waterresourcesitesatseveralpublicbuildingsaroundFlintwhereresidentscanpickupbottledwater,waterfilters,
replacementcartridges,andhomewatertestingkits.TheyalsoadvisedresidentstocalltheUnitedWaytoreceive
additionalhelpifneeded.[44]Weaverstressedtoresidentsthatitwasimportanttoalsopickupthetestingkits,as
thecitywouldliketoreceiveatleast500watertestsamplesperweek.[45]
StartingonJanuary7,GeneseeCountySheriffRobertPickellhadworkcrewsofoffenderssentencedto
communityservicebegindeliveringbottledwater,waterfiltersandreplacementcartridges,primarilytoresidents
livinginhomesbuiltbetween1901and1920,whoseplumbingsystemsaremostlikelyleachingleadintothewater.
Thenextweek,heorderedhisdepartmenttobeginusingreverse911toadvisehomeboundresidentsonhowto
gethelp.[46]
OnJanuary9,theUnitedAutoWorkersunionalsodonateddrinkingwatertoFlintviaacaravanoftruckstolocal
foodbanks,andanAmeriCorpsteamannouncedthatitwoulddeploytoFlinttoassistinresponseefforts.[47]
AlsoonJanuary9,theFederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)senttwoliaisonofficerstotheMichigan
EmergencyOperationsCentertoworkwiththestatetomonitorthesituation.[48][49]
OnJanuary11,Snydersignedanexecutiveordercreatinganewcommitteeto"workonlongtermsolutionstothe
Flintwatersituationandongoingpublichealthconcernsaffectingresidents."[50]Thenextday,officersfromthe
MichiganStatePoliceandGeneseeCountySheriff'sDepartmentstarteddeliveringcasesofwater,waterfilters,
leadtestingkitsandreplacementcartridgestoresidentswhoneededthem.[51]TheAmericanRedCrosshasalso
beendeployedtoFlinttodeliverbottledwaterandfilterstoresidents.[52]SnyderactivatedtheMichiganArmy
NationalGuardtoassisttheRedCross,startingJanuary13,[53]withthirtysoldiersplannedtobeinFlintbyJanuary
15.[54]TheNationalGuarddoubledtheirnumberofsoldiersdeployedtoFlintbyJanuary18,andbeganchecking
identificationtoassuretherecipientswereFlintresidents,afteritwasdiscoveredsomepeoplefromasfarawayas
Detroitwereacceptingfreesuppliesovertheweekend.[55]OnJanuary19,SnyderorderedmoresoldierstoFlint
bythenextday,foratotalof200.[39]
OnJanuary14,itwasannouncedDr.MonaHannaAttishawillleadaFlintPediatricPublicHealthInitiativethat
includesexpertsfromtheMichiganStateUniversityCollegeofHumanMedicine,HurleyChildren'sHospital,the
GeneseeCountyHealthDepartment,andtheMichiganDepartmentofHealthandHumanServicestohelpFlint
childrendiagnosedwithleadpoisoning.[56]
OnJanuary15,SnyderaskedPresidentObamatograntafederalemergency/majordisasterdesignationfor
GeneseeCounty,seekingfederalfinancialaidforemergencyassistanceandinfrastructurerepairinorderto"protect
thehealth,safetyandwelfareofFlintresidents."[57][54][58]Thefollowingday,Obamasignedanemergency
declarationgivingFlintupto$5millioninfederalaidtohandlethecrisis.[59]FEMAreleasedastatementthatsaid,
"ThePresident'sactionauthorizestheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,FederalEmergencyManagementAgency
(FEMA),tocoordinatealldisasterreliefeffortswhichhavethepurposeofalleviatingthehardshipandsuffering
causedbytheemergencyonthelocalpopulation,andtoprovideappropriateassistanceforrequiredemergency
measures,authorizedunderTitleVoftheStaffordAct,tosavelivesandtoprotectpropertyandpublichealthand
safety,andtolessenoravertthethreatofacatastropheinGeneseeCounty.FEMAisauthorizedtoprovide
equipmentandresourcestoalleviatetheimpactsoftheemergency.Emergencyprotectivemeasures,limitedto
directfederalassistance,willbeprovidedat75percentfederalfunding.Thisemergencyassistanceistoprovide
water,waterfilters,waterfiltercartridges,watertestkits,andothernecessaryrelateditemsforaperiodofnomore
than90days."[60]
Snyder'srequestfora"MajorDisasterDeclaration"statusturneddownFEMAAdministratorW.CraigFugate
wrotealettertoSnydersayingthatthewatercontamination"doesnotmeetthelegaldefinitionofa'majordisaster'"
underfederallawbecause"[t]heincidentwasnottheresultofanaturalcatastrophe,norwasitcreatedbyafire,
floodorexplosion."[61]Aspokesmanforthegovernorsaidthatthestatewouldappealthedecision,andadded
SynderalsoplannedtomakeasupplementalfundingrequesttotheMichiganLegislature,seekingfundsforpayfor
thecostsoftheFlintwatercrisis.[61]
AlsoonJanuary16,theLegacyGroupWaterProjectcoordinatedwiththeRedCrossandtheCityofFlintaswell
asBottlesfortheBabiestoinitiatethelargestvolunteeractiontodistributewaterandfiltersintothecityinasingle
daysinceacitywideemergencywasdeclaredonDecember15,2015.[62]
Inquiries,investigations,andresignations
OnefocusofinquiryiswhenSnyderbecameawareoftheissue,andhowmuchheknewaboutit.[63]InaJuly
2015email,DennisMuchmore(thenSnyder'schiefofstaff)wrotetoaMichiganDepartmentofHealthandHuman
Services(MDHHS)official:"I'mfrustratedbythewaterissueinFlint.Ireallydon'tthinkpeoplearegettingthe
benefitofthedoubt.Thesefolksarescaredandworriedaboutthehealthimpactsandtheyarebasicallygetting
blownoffbyus(asastatewe'rejustnotsympathizingwiththeirplight)."[63][64]InaseparateemailsentonJuly22,
2015,MDHHSlocalhealthservicesdirectorMarkMillerwrotetocolleaguesthatit"Soundsliketheissueisold
leadservicelines."[64]TheseemailswereobtainedundertheMichiganFreedomofInformationActbyVirginia
Techresearchersstudyingthecrisis,andwerereleasedtothepublicinthefirstweekofJanuary2016.[64]
InOctober2015,itwasreportedthatthecitygovernment'sdataonleadwaterlinesinthecitywasstoredon
45,000indexcards(somedatingbackacentury)locatedinfilingcabinetsinFlintspublicutilitybuilding.[65][66]The
DepartmentofPublicWorkssaidthatitwastryingtotransitionthedataintoanelectronicspreadsheetprogram,
butasofOctober1,2015,onlyabout25%oftheindexcardinformationhadbeendigitized.[65]
OnOctober21,2015,SnyderannouncedthecreationofafivememberFlintWaterAdvisoryTaskForce,
consistingofKenSikkemaofPublicSectorConsultantsandChrisKolboftheMichiganEnvironmentalCouncil
(cochairs)andDr.MatthewDavisoftheUniversityofMichiganHealthSystem,EricRothsteinoftheGalardi
RothsteinGroupandDr.LawrenceReynoldsofMottChildren'sHealthCenterinFlint.[67]InDecember29,2015,
theTaskForcereleaseditspreliminaryreport,sayingthattheMichiganDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality
(DEQ)boreultimateblamefortheFlintwatercrisis.[68][69]ThetaskforcewrotethattheDEQ'sOfficeofDrinking
WaterandMunicipalAssistance(ODWMA)adopteda"minimalisttechnicalcomplianceapproach"towater
safety,whichwas"unacceptableandsimplyinsufficienttothetaskofpublicprotection."[68]Thetaskforcealso
foundthat"Throughout2015,asthepublicraisedconcernsandasindependentstudiesandtestingwereconducted
andbroughttotheattentionofMDEQ,theagency'sresponsewasoftenoneofaggressivedismissal,belittlement,
andattemptstodiscredittheseeffortsandtheindividualsinvolved.Wefindboththetoneandsubstanceofmany
MDEQpublicstatementstobecompletelyunacceptable."[68]ThetaskforcealsofoundthattheMichiganDEQhas
failedtofollowthefederalLeadandCopperRule(LCR).[68]Thatrulerequires"optimizedcorrosioncontrol
treatment,"butDEQstaffinstructedCityofFlintwatertreatmentstaffthatcorrosioncontroltreatment(CCT)
wouldnotbenecessaryforayear.[68]Thetaskforcefoundthat"thedecisionnottorequireCCT,madeatthe
directionoftheMDEQ,leddirectlytothecontaminationoftheFlintwatersystem."[68]
Thetaskforce'sfindingspromptedtheresignationofDEQdirectorDanWyantandcommunicationsdirectorBrad
Wurfel.[70][71]FlintDepartmentofPublicWorksdirectorHowardCroftalsoresigned.[72]
OnJanuary8,2016,theU.S.Attorney'sOfficefortheEasternDistrictofMichigansaidthatitwasinvestigating.[13]
TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)"battledMichigan'sDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualitybehindthe
scenesforatleastsixmonthsoverwhetherFlintneededtousechemicaltreatmentstokeepleadlinesandplumbing
connectionsfromleachingintodrinkingwater"and"didnotpublicizeitsconcernthatFlintresidents'healthwas
jeopardizedbythestate'sinsistencethatsuchcontrolswerenotrequiredbylaw.[73]In2015,EPAwaterexpert
MiguelDelToral"identifiedpotentialproblemswithFlint'sdrinkingwaterinFebruary,confirmedthesuspicionsin
Aprilandsummarizedtheloomingproblem"inaninternalmemo[74]circulatedonJune24,2015.[73]TheDelToral
memowasnotpubliclyreleaseduntilNovember2015,afterarevisionandvettingprocess.[73]Intheinterim,the
EPAandtheMichiganDEQengagedinadisputeonhowtointerprettheLeadandCopperRule.Accordingto
EPARegion5AdministratorSusanHedman,theEPApushedtoimmediatelyimplementcorrosioncontrolsinthe
interestsofpublichealth,whiletheMichiganDEQsoughttodelayadecisiononcorrosioncontroluntiltwosix
monthperiodsofsamplinghadbeencompleted.[73]InaninterviewwiththeDetroitNewspublishedonJanuary
12,Hedmansaid:"Let'sbeclear,therecommendationtoDEQ(regardingtheneedforcorrosioncontrols)
occurredathigherandhigherlevelsduringthistimeperiod.AndtheanswerkeptcomingbackfromDEQthat'no,
wearenotgoingtomakeadecisionuntilafterweseemoretestingresults.'"[73]HedmansaidtheEPAdidnotgo
publicwithitsconcernsearlierbecause(1)stateandlocalgovernmentshaveprimaryresponsibilityfordrinking
waterqualityandsafety(2)therewasinsufficientevidenceatthatpointoftheextentofthedangerand(3)the
EPA'slegalauthoritytocompelthestatetotakeactionwasunclear,andtheEPAdiscussedtheissuewithitslegal
counsel,whoonlyrenderedanopinioninNovember.[73]HedmansaidtheEPAdiscussedtheissuewithitslegal
counselandurgedthestatetohaveMDHHSwarnresidentsaboutthedanger.[73]
AssessmentsoftheEPA'sactionvaried.MarcEdwards,whoinvestigatedtheleadcontamination,saidthatthe
assessmentinDelToral'soriginalJunememowas"100percentaccurate"andcriticizedtheEPAforfailingtotake
moreimmediateaction.[73]StateSenateMinorityLeaderJimAnanich,DemocratofFlint,said,"There'sbeena
failureatalllevelstoaccuratelyassessthescaleofthepublichealthcrisisinFlint,andthatproblemisongoing.
However,theEPA'sMiguelDelToraldidexcellentworkintryingtoexposethisdisaster.Anyonewhoreadhis
memoandfailedtoactshouldbeheldaccountabletothefullestextentofthelaw."[73]
OnJanuary15,MichiganAttorneyGeneralBillSchuetteannouncedthathisofficewouldopenaninvestigationinto
thecrisis,sayingthesituationinFlint"isahumantragedyinwhichfamiliesarestrugglingwitheventhemostbasic
partsofdailylife."[75][76]
Lawsuits
OnNovember13,2015,fourfamiliesfiledafederalclassactionlawsuitintheU.S.DistrictCourtfortheEastern
DistrictofMichiganinDetroitagainstGovernorRickSnyderandthirteenothercityandstateofficials,including
formerFlintMayorDayneWallingandexemergencyfinancialmanagerDarnellEarley,whowasinchargeofthe
citywhentheswitchtotheFlintRiverwasmade.Thecomplaintallegesthattheofficialsactedrecklesslyand
negligently,leadingtoseriousinjuriesfromleadpoisoning,includingautoimmunedisorders,skinlesions,and"brain
fog."[77][78][79]Thecomplaintsaysthattheofficials'conductwas"recklessandoutrageous"and"shocksthe
conscienceandwasdeliberatelyindifferentto...constitutionalrights."[79]
OnJanuary14,2016,aseparateclassactionlawsuitagainstSnyder,theStateofMichigan,theCityofFlint,
Earley,Walling,andCroftwasfiledbythreeFlintresidentsinMichiganCircuitCourtinGeneseeCounty.[80][81]
Threeadditionalclassactionlawsuitsatcounty,stateandfederallevelswereannouncedonJanuary19.[82]
Politicalresponses
OnJanuary4,2016,citingtheFlintwatercrisis,MichiganRepresentativePhilPhelps,DemocratofFlushing,
announcedplanstointroduceabilltotheMichiganHouseofRepresentativesthatwouldmakeitafelonyforstate
officialstointentionallymanipulateorfalsifyinformationinofficialreports,punishablebyuptofiveyears'
imprisonmentanda$5,000fine.[83]
OnJanuary12,DemocraticU.S.RepresentativeDanKildeefromFlintsaidofSnyder:"It'sbeyondmy
comprehensionthathecontinuestotreatthisasapublicrelationsproblemratherthanasapublichealthemergency.
Meanwhile,kidsinFlintarestillbeingexposedtohighlevelsofleadinthewater."KildeecalleduponSnyderto
requestfederalassistance(whichSnydersubsequentlydid).[84]
OnJanuary14,DemocraticU.S.RepresentativeBrendaLawrenceofSouthfieldformallyrequestedcongressional
hearingsonthecrisis,saying:"Wetrustourgovernmenttoprotectthehealthandsafetyofourcommunities,andthis
includesthepromiseofcleanwatertodrink..."[85]
AmongtheMichigancongressionaldelegation,onlyU.S.RepresentativeJustinAmashopposedfederalaidfor
Flint.Amashopinedthat"theU.S.Constitutiondoesnotauthorizethefederalgovernmenttointerveneinan
intrastatematterlikethisone."[86]
FormerSecretaryofStateandU.S.SenatorHillaryClinton,acandidatefortheDemocraticnominationfor
president,saidofthecrisis"ThepeopleofFlintdeservetoknowthetruthabouthowthishappenedandwhat
GovernorSnyderandotherleadersknewaboutit.Andtheydeserveasolution,fast.Thousandsofchildrenmay
havebeenexposedtolead,whichcouldirreversiblyharmtheirhealthandbrainfunctioning.Plus,thiscatastrophe
whichwascausedbyazealtosavemoneyatallcostscouldactuallycost$1.5billionininfrastructurerepairs."
[87]Inasubsequentinterview,ClintonreferredtoherworkonleadabatementinhousinginupstateNewYorkand
calledforfurtherfundingforhealthcareandeducationforchildrenwhowillsufferthenegativeeffectsoflead
exposureonbehaviorandeducationalattainment.[88]IndependentU.S.SenatorBernieSandersofVermont,
anothercandidatefortheDemocraticnominationforpresident,calledforSnydertoresignfromoffice,statinghe
has"noexcuses"forthedisaster.[89]Henotedtheeventwas"oneoftheworstpublichealthcrisesinthemodern
historyofthiscountry."[90]BothClintonandSandersreferencedtheissueandcondemnedSnyderinatelevised
primarydebateonJanuary17.ClintonstatedthatifthewatercrisishadoccurredinawealthierDetroitsuburb
ratherthanpoor,majorityAfricanAmericanFlint,"therewouldhavebeenaction,"whileSandersreiteratedhiscall
forSnyder'sresignation.[91][92][93]
SenatorMarcoRubioofFlorida,thefirstRepublicanpresidentialcandidatetobeaskedaboutthewatercrisis,
declinedtocomment,sayingthathehadnotbeenbriefedandhiscampaignhadnotfocusedontheissue.[94][95]
Mediaandotherresponses
OnOctober8,2015,theeditorialboardoftheDetroitFreePresswrotethatthecrisiswas"anobscenefailureof
government"andcriticizedSnyder.[96]
OnDecember31,2015,theeditorialboardoftheMLivegroupofMichigannewspaperscalleduponSnyderto
"dropexecutiveprivilegeandreleaseallofhiscommunicationsonFlintwater,"establishaprocedurefor
compensatingfamilieswithchildrensufferingfromelevatedleadbloodlevels,andreturnFlinttolocalcontrol.[97]
InJanuary2016,thewatchdoggroupCommonCausealsocalleduponSnydertoreleasealldocumentsrelatedto
theFlintwatercrisis.(Thegovernor'sofficeisnotsubjecttotheMichiganFreedomofInformationAct).[98]
RachelMaddow,hostofMSNBC'sRachelMaddowShow,extensivelyreportedonthewatercrisis,keepingitin
thenationalspotlight.[99][100]Onherprogram,MaddowcondemnedSynder'suseofemergencymanagers(which
Maddowtermeda"very,veryradical"change"tothewaywegovernourselvesasAmericans,somethingthat
nobodyelsehasdone")andstatedthat"ThekidsofFlint,Michiganhavebeenpoisonedbyapolicydecision."[100]
ThedocumentaryfilmmakerMichaelMoore,anativeofnearbyDavison,calledforSnyder'sarrestformishandling
thewatercrisisinanopenlettertothegovernor,writing:"Thefactsareallthere,Mr.Snyder.Everyagency
involvedinthisschemereporteddirectlytoyou.ThechildrenofFlintdidn'thaveachoiceastowhetherornotthey
weregoingtogettodrinkcleanwater."AspokesmanforthegovernorcalledMoore'scall"inflammatory."[101][102]
Later,afterhearingoftheLegionnairesoutbreak,hetweeted"Andnow,murder.BREAKING:10peopledeadin
FlintfromLegionnairesDisease.FlintRiverwatersuspected.Noarrestsyet."[103]SpeakingtoreportersinFlint,
Mooreemphasizedthat"thiswasnotamistake...Tenpeoplehavebeenkilledherebecauseofapolitical
decision.Theydidthis.Theyknew."[104]
InapostonherFacebookpage,environmentalactivistErinBrockovichcalledthewatercrisisa"growingnational
concern"andsaidthatthecrisiswas"likely"connectedtotheLegionnaires'diseaseoutbreak.Brockovichcalledfor
theU.S.EnvironmentProtectionAgencytobecomeinvolvedintheinvestigation,sayingthattheEPA's"continued
silencehasprovendeadly."[103]
OnJanuary16,theReverendJesseJacksonmetwithMayorWeaverandsaidofthecrisis,"Theissueofwaterand
airandhousingandeducationandviolenceareallcombined.Theproblemhereobviouslyismorethanjustlackof
drinkablewater.Weknowtheproblemshereandtheywillbeaddressed."[105]JacksoncalledFlint"adisaster
zone"anda"crimescene"duringarallyataFlintchurchthenextday.[106]
AlsoonJanuary16,singerCherdonated181,000bottlesofwatertoFlint.[107]OnJanuary18,rapperMeekMill
donated$50,000toFlinttoaidinthecrisis.[108]TheLittleRiverBandofOttawaIndiansalsodonated$10,000to
Flint.[109]
AlsoonJanuary18,NontombiNaomiTutu(daughterofDesmondTutu)saidinaspeechattheUniversityof
MichiganFlint,"WeactuallyneededthepeopleofFlinttoremindthepeopleofthiscountrywhathappenswhen
politicalexpediency,whenfinancialconcerns,overshadowjusticeandhumanity."[110]
Thewaterdisasteralsocalledattentiontotheproblemofagingandseriouslyneglectedwaterinfrastructure
nationwide.[111]
Anumberofcommentatorsframedthecrisisintermsofhumanrights,writingthatauthorities'handlingoftheissue
deniedresidentstheirrighttocleanwater.[63][112]Othersframeditastheendresultofausteritymeasuresgiven
priorityoverhumanlife.[113][114]Others,suchascolumnistShaunKing,characterizedthecrisisasaresultof
environmentalracismand"ahorrificclashofrace,class,politicsandpublichealth."[115]
Seealso
DrinkingwaterqualityintheUnitedStates
LeadcontaminationinWashington,D.C.drinkingwater
Notes
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51. RobertoAcosta,CrisisteamshitFlintstreetswithfiltersandwaterforfrustratedresidents
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TheDetroitNews(January16,2016).
91. RobertoAcosta,HillaryClintonaddressesFlintwatercrisisduringpresidentialdebate
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92. JasonLinkins,Flint'sWaterProblemFinallyGetsAttentionDuringADebate
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HuffingtonPost(January17,2015).
93. DanielWhite,MichiganGovernorUpsetAboutDemocraticDebateMention(http://time.com/4184080/democratic
debatericksnyderhillaryclintonberniesanders/),Time(January18,2016).
94. EricBradner,Rubiosayshehasn'tbeenbriefedonFlintwatercrisis
(http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/18/politics/marcorubioflintwatercrisis/),CNN(January19,2015).
95. TonyPaul,RubiodeclinesdetailedcommentonFlintwatercrisis
(http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/18/rubiodeclinesdetailedcommentflintwater
crisis/78979892/),DetroitNews(January18,2016).
96. Flintwatercrisis:Anobscenefailureofgovernment
(http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/10/08/flintwatercrisisobscenefailure
government/73578640/),DetroitFreePress(October8,2015).
97. Gov.RickSnyderneedstodomorethanjustapologizeforFlintwatercrisis
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31,2015).
98. SteveCarmody,WatchdoggroupasksGov.SnydertoreleaseallFlintwatercrisisdocuments
(http://michiganradio.org/post/watchdoggroupasksgovsnyderreleaseallflintwatercrisis
documents#stream/0),MichiganRadio(January6,2016).
99. RonFonger,MSNBC'sRachelMaddowkeepsnationalspotlightonwatercrisisinMichigan
(http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/12/msnbcs_rachel_maddow_puts_nati.html),MLive(December
23,2015).
100. RachelMaddowSlamsRickSnyderFor'PoisoningFlint'sChildren'WithWaterCrisis
(http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/12/19/rachelmaddowslamsricksnyderforpoisoningflintschildrenwith
watercrisisvideo/),CBSDetroit(December19,2015).
101. MichaelMoorecallsforarrestofGov.Snyder
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DetroitNews(January7,2016).
102. ChrisFleszar,MichaelMoorecallsforSnyder'sarrestforFlintwater
(http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/01/07/michaelmoorecallssnydersarrestflint
water/78418010/),WZZM13(republishedbytheDetroitFreePress)(January7,2016).
103. ErinBrockovich,MichaelMoorejoinoutcryaboutFlintareaLegionnaires'spike
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(January14,2016).
104. DanielBethencourt,MichaelMoore,inFlint,sayscrisis'notamistake'
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FreePress(January16,2016).
105. MayorWeaverandRev.JesseJacksondiscussemergencydeclarationandwateremergency
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andwateremergency365560451.html),WJRTTV(January16,2016).
106. RobertoAcosta,Rev.JesseJacksoncallsFlinta"disasterzone,"asksforfederalhelp
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107. Chertodonate181,000bottlesofwatertohelpoutFlintwatercrisis
(http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/01/cher_to_donate_181000_bottles.html)TheFlintJournalvia
108. MeekMillPromisestoDonateMoneytoFlintWaterCrisis,Asks50CenttoHelp
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tohelp/),XXLMagazine(January18,2016)/
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nationwide),NPRWeekendEditionSaturday(January2,2016)(interviewwithRobertPuentes,directorofthe
MetropolitanInfrastructureInitiativeattheBrookingsInstitution).
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watercrisisisahumanrightsviolation.html),AlJazeera(January9,2016).
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(http://www.salon.com/2016/01/09/when_money_matters_more_than_lives_the_poisonous_cost_of_austerity_in_f
lint_michigan/).Salon.January9,2016.
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austeritycrisisinflintgrows/).TheNation.January17,2015.
115. ShaunKing,King:MichiganGov.RickSnyderdidnothingasFlintswatercrisisbecameoneoftheworstcasesof
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flintmichenvironmentalracismarticle1.2493271),DailyNews(NewYork)(January11,2016).
Externallinks
TakingActiononFlint Externalvideo
Water
WatercrisisinFlint,Michigan,drawsfederalinvestigation
(http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/health/flintmichiganwater
investigation/index.html),CNN,GregBotelho,SarahJorgensenandJosephNetto,
January9,2016
HowFlint,Michigan,SavedMoneyandPoisonedItsChildren:CityDeclares
WaterEmergency
(http://www.democracynow.org/2015/12/17/how_flint_michigan_saved_money_and),
DemocracyNow,December17,2015
(https://michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,71353313_3675_73946,00.html)officialMichiganDepartmentof
EnvironmentalQualitywebsiteonthecrisis
EPAdocumentsrelatedtoFlintdrinkingwater(http://www.epa.gov/mi/flintdrinkingwaterdocuments)
fromtheofficialEPAwebsite
Flintwaterstudy.org(http://flintwaterstudy.org/)officialwebsiteofDr.MarcEdwards'VirginiaTech
ResearchTeam,whichinvestigatedtheleadcontamination
ArticlesontheFlintwatercrisis(http://topics.mlive.com/tag/flintwater/)fromMLive
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Categories: 2014disastersintheUnitedStates 2014healthdisasters 2014inMichigan

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