Flint: The Importance Of Saving Water In Flint

Flint is the largest city and county seat of Genesee County, Michigan. Located along the Flint River, 66 miles northwest of Detroit. Flint has a population of 102,434 according to the 2010 census, from a high point in the mid-1950s of nearly 200,000 people. Flint’s primary economic resource was dependent on automobile manufacturing, through GM’s Buick and Chevrolet divisions, both of which were founded in Flint. However, by the late 1980s the city sank into a deep economic depression and GM closed and demolished several factories in the area (Flint Michigan, 2016). Flint has been plagued by high unemployment and has had complete dependency on the auto manufacturing industry as its main employment opportunity for its citizens. The cause of the

According to Data USA, the population of Flint Michigan in 2014 was 99,802. 41.2% of the population in Flint, MI live below the poverty line, a number that high higher than the national average of 14.7%. Households in Flint, have a median annual income of $24,862 which is less than the median annual income in the United States. 61.1% of the population is black or African American. (Data USA, 2015). A third of the population live in poverty and a sixth of the houses are even abandoned. Flint River, Flint Michigan’s primary water source has been known to be of poor quality, having a history of contamination from fecal coliform bacteria, low dissolved oxygen, plants nutrients, and toxic substances. In 2001 there was 134 state ordered

I watch or read the news pretty regularly, but I only watch news which has the traits that I value most. The news to me isn’t about being entertained, it is about learning, in an unbiased, clear, and concise way. Other television shows can entertain, but the news should be reserved for information relevant to people’s everyday lives, allowing them to make informed decisions. I feel this way because I don’t like when a news source is pushing a hidden agenda. I look for a fair telling of both sides of the story. I also feel that because I stay relatively busy, I think it is insulting that the news would choose to waste my time with extraneous background information, off topic statements, or articles over 1,000 words. Most importantly though, It needs to be clear, if I can’t understand it, it’s the worst kind of news, no news. I have chosen three articles regarding the Flint Michigan water crisis to evaluate based on my criteria. One from CNN titled, “Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan, Draws Federal Investigation,” written by Greg Botelho, Sarah Jorgenson, & Joseph Netto, which focuses on the investigation but also background into the crisis. The next article I have chosen an article from the New York Times (NYT). This article titled, “As Water Problems Grew, Officials Belittled Complaints From Flint.” From the contributions of writers, Julia Bosman, Monica Davey, & Mitch Smith. I chose this article from other ones, because this article primarily focuses on politics like who

In “Flint’s Water Crises: What went wrong,” Ryan Felton appeals to logic to persuade his readers that the Flint Water Crises could have been prevented because he stated that “As early as October 2014, there were problematic signs.” These signs were when General Motors engine plant stopped using Flint’s water because the engines were becoming rusty. There were also some independent studies that showed that the water contained some compounds that can cause kidney or liver issues an example, “Tests also revealed elevated levels of chemical compounds in the water supply that can lead to liver or kidney issues.” yet, officials continued to reassure residents that the water was safe to drink. Studies continued to follow that shows the water headed

The problem in Flint, Michigan was the residents came to the conclusion that iron found its way into their water supply and people began to panic at the sight of brownish water. In fear they went to city officials and to city police to figure out the problem. They receive all their tap water from the Flint River which is highly corrosive and the Department of Environmental quality was not treating the water with an anti-corrosion agent.

There are two sides to this story, the government of Flint, MI and the people who reside

How would you feel if you’ve been poisoned and no one told you? Well that's what happened in Flint, Michigan during a change of water source it was discovered the water in the town has been contaminated for months with high amount of lead.

“The more we complained about it to those in charge, the more we were told it was fine” is what Bishop Jefferson (2016), along with numerous other Flint residents, is saying about the on going situation with the Flint drinking water. Since April of 2014, many residents living in Flint, Michigan, have been cursed with a number of health effects that were caused by the change of the drinking water source from Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River which has been contaminated with lead. “Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust”(2015). Although it is beneficial in some ways, it can be toxic to humans and animals and cause many health problems. So, when lead leached its way into the water

Secondly, water pollution is contaminating the fresh water supply across the nation. The city of Flint, Michigan serves as a cautionary tale about how misusing water and power can prevent people from receiving a clean glass of water. In 2014, The city of Flint switched its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River, while a new pipeline was being built connecting the two bodies of water. This gave the city a chance to save money despite the fact there were previous records of the river being contaminated. That same year, after the switch, the city had to issue a boil water advisory twice and a General Motors plant stop using city water because it was corroding engine parts. Finally, in January 2015, the city notifies residents that the

I read an article published by NPR about the water crisis still currently happening in Flint, Michigan. The article provides a timeline leading up to the crisis and the backlash it has created in the town. It starts off with Flint city officials deciding whether or not the town can save money by getting their water from another source. To do this they would build their own pipeline and it’s said it would save the town up to $200 million is 25 years. Despite saying the water was safe and clean to use, it still caused a lot of problems. Residents complained about how the water tasted and smelt bad, and General Motors refused to continue using the water because they feared it would cause corrosion and damage to their machines. And instead of testing

With the upcoming presidential election, this year there is one very unnerving fact that has received overwhelming bipartisan recognition; America has a serious problem with infrastructure and something must be done. Across the country, dams, roads, sewage systems and bridges were built with Works Progress Administration funds in the 1930s. Seventy years later, they are in despair. As a nation, we must address Americas’ failing infrastructure and close the ever-increasing infrastructure deficit before the backbone of America crumbles right under our own two feet. To do so U.S. policymakers must act now to raise funds, without increasing our national debt. No intervention by the government will lead to a continuance of deteriorating the health

Her article, “Elevated Blood Levels in Children Associated with the Flint Drinking Water Crisis: A Spatial Analysis of Risk and Public Health Response,” describes the water issue revolving around Flint for decades. It has only recently begun to get better. Lead was found, as well as bacteria, in the Flint water (283-284). Mona wrote, “Increased lead poisoning rates have profound implications for the life course potential of an entire cohort of Flint children already rattled with toxic stress contributors (e.g, poverty, violence, unemployment, food insecurity)” (286). Mona also concluded that, “As in many urban areas with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage and minority populations, we found a preexisting disparity in lead poisoning” (286). Issues have been done to prevent the Flint crisis, and it has gone down over the past thirty years, however, “A once-celebrated cost-cutting move for an economically distressed city, the water source change has now wrought untold economic, population health, and geo-political burdens”(288). Much like the HDR’s theories, the Flint Water Crisis also appeals to the wealthy class. In any other community, primarily wealthy, money can be provided to prevent future water issues.

I believe that no one should have to fear about clean water. Everyone deserves and should expect safe drinking water. Your race, location and status should not determine this. In Flint, they were deprived their health just to save a few bucks. This community deserves accountability, justice and clean water to drink.

What makes Flint, Michigan's current water situation a crisis? Is it the children not being able to stop their thirst by consuming water at their schools, or moms who can’t give their child water from the tap due to high levels of lead in the water. This crisis should not be taken as a joke, as it may lead to harmful situations. Plenty of families in Flint are badly affected by this upsetting case. How would you feel if the water in your community was tainted?

In April of 2014 Flint Michigan endured one of the deadliest crisis that hit the United States since Hurricane Katrina. It was later called “The Flint Water Crisis”, it made headlines everywhere including hashtags on social media and it also got the the attention of celebrities which spread the news all over. It also became one of the