Since summer 2015, America can seemingly be in unison that our minds and lives have been bombarded with the recent updates of each GOP and democratic candidate and the takeaways from the respected debates by the media. Let's be real, the major news networks are just eagerly anticipating to release their newest article entitled: Just In: Donald Trump Spends 17 Minutes Inside of Public Restroom in Blue State. Whether we like it or not, politics seem to creep their way back into our lives, leaving barely any room for other trending topics. Consequently they have failed to harass our minds with the growing water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
How it all began:
The Flint Water Crisis was a growing problem before it made brief headlines. Unfortunately, this problem started in April of 2013. In the previous month, the Flint city council voted to join the Karegnondi Water Authority, a new project to deliver water from Lake Huron into the pipeline of the residents of Flint, Michigan, and no longer use Detroit water. Through this project, the city projected to accumulate nearly $20 million in savings in a span of eight years. The pipeline from Lake Huron was expected to be a three year project, so the city decided to draw water from the Flint River. One year later, the city began drawing water from the local river. One month after, the problems arose.
Many residents started complaining about the new water. By August 2014, water in parts of the city tested positive for E. coli bacteria forcing residents to boil their water for their health and safety. After more contaminants were being filtrated into the water and the presence of sediment and discoloration were discovered, a consultant of Flint and a manager of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was hired to do an investigation. On February 26, 2015 the U.S. EPA released a report stating that there was lead in the pipelines. Subsequently, Flint unanimously switched back to Detroit water.
Where the bigger issue lies:
On October 13, 2014, Flint General Motors realized there was something off about their water supply. The river water began rusting their car parts. In an interview, GM spokesman Tom Wickham stated there was "visible corrosion damage on parts coming out of the machining process". Months after the interview, Flint General Motors plant and the city devised an accommodation for the plant to use a different water line. Yes, I typed that correctly. Flint General Motors was granted access into a different and disinfectant water supply, while the city residents were still forced to use the river water. As a result, all of Flint's residents (over 102,000) ingested lead. Eighty-seven residents contracted Legionnaires' disease, and there have been ten fatalities during the eighteen month span.
With Flint being inhabited by majority blacks, 57% according to the U.S. Census, and a poverty rate of 42%, there has been much speculation that this is more than just a calamitous disaster--this is a form of environmental racism and even genocide. If the demographics were reversed, and Flint, Michigan was majority white and upper class residents, would this crisis even be a crisis or would have lasted for this long?
Throughout this there has been a lack of disciplinary action for the state's governor Rick Snyder and his officials. As for the governor, there has been no criminal charges, no termination, and no resignation. So far Snyder has apologized to the public twice, including during Michigan's State of the State address in January. But do the mere words "I'm sorry, and I will fix it," do its justice for the people affected in Flint? For this matter, the cliché phrase "actions speak louder than words" speaks volumes. Thankfully, the city was given $28 million in state aid to cope with health issues and pipe damages of those affected, alongside, $80 million in federal funding for replacing the water infrastructure.
The Flint Water Crisis is far from being resolved because of the lasting health effects. According to the CDC, adults exposed to lead poisoning can experience fatigue, diminished cognitive performance, and even reduced IQ scores. Instead of holding a presidential debate in the city demanding the resignation of the governor, proper and extensive health care should be provided promptly, and monetary reimbursements to the families should be dispersed over the course of time to the families affect. In due time, justice will be rightfully served for the residents of Flint, until then I will unite with them and continue to #prayforflint.
