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Flint Water Crisis

MCHE 2990 Project

Fall 2018

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Flint, MI

40% of population lives in poverty
Largely African American Population
Ranked as one of America’s most dangerous cities
Severe Economic Depression after GM downsized
Flint population halved in the late 1900’s to early 2000’s

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Background

Financial emergency declared by Gov. Snyder pre-2014
Building pipeline to connect Flint to KWA projects $200 million in savings over 25 years (April 2013)
First water from Flint River enters city (April 25, 2014)
City tries to ease concern of residents with a press release

The day after announcing their decision to join KWA, Detroit terminates their contract with the City effective exactly one year later

Flint river was actually flints main source of water until the 1960’s

Press Release:

"Even with a proven track record of providing perfectly good water for Flint, there still remains lingering uncertainty about the quality of the water. In an effort to dispel myths and promote the truth about the Flint River and its viability as a residential water resource, there have been numerous studies and tests conducted on its water by several independent organizations. ... Michael Prysby of the Michigan DEQ Office of Drinking Water verified that 'the quality of the water being put out meets all of our drinking water standards and Flint water is safe to drink.”

" 'It's regular, good, pure drinking water, and it's right in our backyard,' said Mayor [Dayne] Walling, "this is the first step in the right direction for Flint, and we take this monumental step forward in controlling the future of our community's most precious resource.' "

Financial Emergency - City of Flint, MI declared state of Financial Emergency prior to the crisis. Flint is a very impoverished area with extremely high crime rates. Its population has halved from 200k to 100k within the past 50 years since its economic boom of the car industry.
New Pipeline - sourcing new water from Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) to improve financial situation over next 25 years ($200M projected savings). Previously sourced water from Detroit, but cut contract due to high usage costs/maintenance expenses, began sourcing water from Flint river treatment plant (last operated 1960; known to be toxic/impotable)
Press Release - City attempts to calm community’s concerns with Mayor Snyder launching a press conference and even drinking the ‘tainted’ water on live television.

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Failure

CSMR (Chloride-Sulfide Mass Ratio) of Flint river is 2.04, Michigan water is 0.45

Flint water not treated

In May 2014, residents complain about water quality
In October, GM announces decision to stop using Flint River Water

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Health Effects

High levels of lead especially harmful to children and pregnant women

Miscarriages, behavioral problems, mental disabilities

Legionnaires disease outbreak
Number of children with high lead levels doubled after switch

3.2 µg/dL BLL (Blood Lead Level) found

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Response

January 2015, Flint found in violation of Safe Drinking Water Act due to level of TTHM (Trihalomethane) in water
April 2015, EPA was notified that Flint didn’t have corrosion control treatment at water plant
Virginia Tech study reveals “serious lead levels” in homes across Flint
January 2016, President Obama and Mayor Snyder both declare state of emergency

TTHM are disinfection byproducts that occur when chlorine interacts with organic matter in the water. Some types are possible carcinogens for humans according to CDC

Trihalomethanes(TTHM) - EPA has published the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule to regulate total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at a maximum allowable annual average level of 80 parts per billion.
EPA - notified through investigations that officials had option to further treat the water to prevent crisis, however deferred the process as it would cut costs (Flint’s main goal).
VA Tech - Flint dubbed with “serious lead levels” within drinking/tap water through testing of various homes/locations throughout the city.
State of Emergency - President Obama and Mayor Snyder simultaneously declare water crisis as state of emergency, both emphasize the significance of finding a solution within a short period of time.

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Stakeholders

Citizens

Constant worry of safety and health

Businesses

Continuing to spend more money on clean water

Researchers

Helping uncover the crisis and finding possible solutions

(Marc Edwards)

(LeeAnne Walters)

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Actions Taken

March 2016, Snyder forms a plan for Flint

Replace corroded pipes
Support for children

Criminal charges filed for Evidence tampering, neglect, negligence against individuals and 2 corporations. (April - July 2016)

(Mayor Rick Snyder)

Snyder’s plan includes providing support for kids under 6, affected by lead poisoning & other toxin exposures, and replacing the lead pipelines, not due to their impractibility, but rather their destruction due to current water source. (lead pipes not the problem; toxic water destroyed previously-found suitable pipes)

Veolia, a French company, was hired by the city as a water-quality consultant in 2015. Texas-based firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam was originally hired in 2011 and helped to operate the water treatment plant using the Flint River. The civil lawsuit accuses both firms of negligence and public nuisance, and also accused Veolia of fraud.

Plan of Action - Mayor Snyder (photo) enacted a plan of action to evade the crisis following discovery of water contaminants; plan to replace all pipes and finish new pipeline.
Criminal Charges - Veolia water treatment, Govt. officials, as well as various engineers involved → charged with multiple crimes including tampering/destruction of evidence, neglection of issues, as well as various introductions of threats to human wellbeing/environmental impacts.
Lawsuits - charged on Veolia who aided in setting up new plant on Flint river, as well as others who helped in covering up/causing the crisis.

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Critical Look

Atomistic approach of city only focused on the short term benefits
Attempt to save money through unethical practice → costs of reparations are significantly more expensive in the long run

Estimated $200 million in savings, total $400 million in ‘social costs’ (not counting cost of water infrastructure repair and replacement)

Falsifying studies and disregarding experts to delay outcry → increased lack of public trust

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Looking Forward

As of 2018, all Flint citizens encouraged to only use bottled water until 2020
The city continues to replace old lead pipelines, but is currently only ⅓ completed
Water levels continue to improve, but many health threats still exist
Trust of the public has been lost

Bottled Water - Flint is very poor, and there is only one supermarket, located on the far end of the town, out of reach of most citizens (especially those without transportation) so clean water is hard to acquire, due to both citizens’ inability to commute, as well as financial burden among those living in impoverished situations. Bottled water is also in such high demand, it is near impossible to keep an adequate supply even for those who are mobile and financially able.
New Pipelines - Lead pipes were not the issue (actually quite safe if used properly); EPA set new distribution standards for water piping. (no more lead pipes to avoid such a crisis in the future due to such negligence as carried out by Flint’s Govt.s)
Water Levels/Trust Issues - skepticism and Govt. distrust are at their highest ever within Flint (Walters moved to VA due to this), & suspicions are not likely to subside for many years.

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Questions?

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Works Cited

Kennedy, Merrit. “Lead-Laced Water In Flint: A Step-By-Step Look At The Makings Of A Crisis.” NPR, NPR, 20 Apr. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/20/465545378/lead-laced-water-in-flint-a-step-by-step-look-at-the-makings-of-a-crisis.

Kelsey J Pieper, et al. “Flint Water Crisis caused by Interrupted Corrosion Control: Investigating “Ground Zero” Home.” Environmental Science & Technology, 2017,

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b04034