Flint, Michigan: A City in Need by Lindsay McMillon

Try to picture turning

on your faucet and having
brown water flow out.
Imagine your skin burning
after showering, or rashes
appearing on your children
after bath time. These
conditions are what the people
of Flint are dealing with.
Water is something that is
such a basic right, that
everyone takes it for granted.
It is devastating to think that
thousands of people are
without clean and safe water.

Image by Meera Dolasia showing water quality of Flint,

Michigan (2016)

Flint, Michigan is a city near Detroit. It has the population of about 100,000 people. They
have been dealing with the ongoing struggle of having the citys water contaminated with lead.
This crisis originated in April of 2014 when the source of water changed from Lake Huron and
the Detroit River to the Flint River. The state Department of Environmental Quality has
conceded it failed to require that needed chemicals be added to the corrosive Flint River water
(Durando, 2016).

The lead damaged the

pipelines so that even after the city
switched back to its original source in
October of 2014, the lead was still
present. The lead levels in Flint are
over five times the cause for concern
level. According to a study done by
Virginia Tech, the 90th percentile
average was a lead level of 25 parts per
billion, while the highest sample was
recorded at 1000 parts per billion
(Parks & Mantha, 2015). For the water
to be that high in recorded levels of
lead, the city is sure to face substantial
Lead level comparisons gathered form a study
health effects from this. Lead is
conducted at Virginia Tech (2015)
dangerous because it inhibits oxygen
and calcium transport and alters nerve
transmission in the brain (NRDC,
2000).
The main health concerns are geared towards the children of Flint. It is concluded that
close to 9,000 children were estimated to be affected, (Durando, 2016). It is sickening that
thousands of kids were poisoned by a citys cost-cutting decision. Those children are at risk for a
lowered IQ, shortened attention span, encephalopathy, severe brain damage, obesity, and altered
hormone levels. The best advice doctors can give at this point is to make sure the kids get proper
nutrition, frequent check-ups, and plenty of support and nurturing.
There are many support efforts that surrounding communities are helping with. Soldiers
in the Michigan Army National Guard were activated to assist the American Red Cross in aiding
Flint residents (Fronger, 2016). Things such as bottled water, water filters, and water testing kits
are being collected and handed out to the residents of Flint. The majority of the support is
coming from surrounding cities in Michigan, or even Michigan-native celebrities. Many people
from other states are not as aware of the severity of this issue, or think that there is no way for
them to help. Some people don't even know there is a water crisis in Flint.
The best way for people who are not close to Michigan to donate or help is to go through
major organizations. Organizations such as the American Red Cross and the United Way are
aiding this crisis. People can also go to websites such as FlintKids.Org or HelpFlint.Com to
make online donations.

This situation is an
example of how easy it is for
Pie chart showing results based on a study
mistakes of government
conducted at the University of Texas at El
officials, or people in charge, to
Paso
affect the governed. This was
caused by people neglecting to
do their job, people being
oblivious to mistakes in their
field of work, and people who
completely ignored the
situation all together. A lot of
the blame is being pushed onto
Governor Rick Snyder. People
of the city need answers and
someone to hold accountable
for these actions. In midst of
the fight for justice, the most we can do is send our help in any way possible to these people in
need.

Bibliography
American Aqua The Area's Leader in Water Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20,
2016, from http://americanaqua.com/about-american-aqua/
ChartGo create graphs online. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2016, from
http://www.chartgo.com/modify.do
Dolasia, M. (2016, January 20). The Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan. Retrieved April 20, 2016,
from http://www.dogonews.com/2016/1/20/the-water-crisis-in-flint-michigan

Durando, J., & Network, O. (2016, January 10). How water crisis in Flint, Mich., became
federal state of emergency. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/01/19/michigan-flint-watercontamination/78996052/
How Lead Poisons the Human Body. (2000). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/flead.asp

Parks, J., & Mantha, M. (n.d.). Lead testing results for water sampled by residents.
Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://flintwaterstudy.org/information-for-flint-residents/resultsfor-citizen-testing-for-lead-300-kits/