Residents of Flint, Michigan, called in environmental activist Erin Brockovich to examine their contaminated drinking water a year ago, she told Stephen Colbert on Thursday's Late Show. She explained that the real problem with the Flint River water is that it leached the lead and other conaminants out of Flint's water delivery pipes. Colbert, after showing some disgusting photos of Flint water, said that reports are coming in of contaminated municipal water from other cities, too. "Is this just the tip of the leadberg out there for what we're drinking?" he asked.
"I can tell you that Flint, Michigan, is the tip of the iceberg," Brockovich said. "I can tell you for certain that this is a national crisis that we're not getting ready to face — the crisis is already here." Lots of cities, to save money, are treating their water with a corrosive substance that leaches out lead, iron, manganese, and copper from antiquated infrastructure. The problem is "affecting many municipalities across the United States," she warned, listing some in Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Ohio. Watch below. Peter Weber
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.
-
Mary Poppins tour: 'humdinger' of a show kicks off at Bristol HippodromeThe Week Recommends Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers are 'true triple threats' as Mary and Bert in 'timeless' production
-
Jaguar's stalled rebrandIn the spotlight Critics and car lovers are baffled by the luxury car company's 'complete reset'
-
What the chancellor's pension megafund plans mean for your moneyRachel Reeves wants pension schemes to merge and back UK infrastructure – but is it putting your money at risk?
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
