Flint's water crisis

The Flint water crisis started in 2014, whilst a new pipeline was under construction residents started noticing a strange taste in their water. The state assured the residents that the water was fine and safe to drink and people continued to drink it until 2015 where a test indicated the water had dangerous levels of lead in it and was unsafe for consumption.

Lead consumption can affect your heart, your kidneys and in children can also cause behavioral disorders, hearing problems and impaired vision. This water has now been unsafe for consumption for nearly 4 years. Flint residents have been forced to use bottled water for cooking, drinking and bathing for 3 years and though the residents have been advised for years to use bottled water. The state is not the one providing them with it, instead companies like Coca Cola and Walmart have volunteered to fund the bottled water to stop residents paying for what should be a free right.

This crisis has already done enough harm however, new research shows that the water has been linked to the increasing amount of fetal deaths and miscarriages. According to a new paper the change in water amounted to a 58% increase in fetal death, and an estimated amount of between 198 and 276 more children would have been born.

However, those who attempted to bury, cover up or hide information about the dangers of the water, won’t go unpunished. Nine former and current state officials have been charged with varying offences from misconduct to involuntary manslaughter. A crime that may result with these officials facing up to 15 years jail time.

The drinking water is now in compliance with federal regulations yet, that does not change the fact that we let these people go without clean accessible water for nearly 4 years and this resulted in illness and death for many people. All we can do now is continue to help their health and make sure this never happens again.

#Flint #America