State of emergency declared in Flint, Michigan, over contaminated drinking water
The U.S. Attorney's office said Tuesday it would investigate the contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan, the same day Gov. Rick Snyder (R) declared a state of emergency for Flint and Genesee County.
In 2014, Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager and to save money the city switched its water source from Lake Huron to the more polluted Flint River. Following the change, residents complained about the water's taste, smell, and appearance, and children were found to have high levels of lead in their systems, which can cause irreversible brain damage. In October, the water supply was switched back to Lake Huron, but there are concerns that the corrosive river water damaged the water distribution center, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Most of the blame has fallen on the state's Department of Environmental Quality, and its director resigned late last month. Rev. Allen Overton, chairman of the Coalition for Clean Water in Flint, told the Free Press that declaring a state of emergency is a step in the right direction. "We're going to need some major financing to fix the infrastructure in the city of Flint," he said. "Until that happens, we're not going to be able to do a lot, including drinking the water."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Try 6 free issues of The Week Junior
Spark your child's curiosity with The Week Junior - the award-winning current affairs magazine for 8-14s.
By The Week Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published