The Flint Water Crisis

The flint rivers reputation has drastically grown more and more dreadful. From its toxic substances in the 1970's to its lead contamination today, this river continues to be deemed severely unpleasant by many. Flint, Michigan is enduring major water-related issues. Although it is an extremely dire situation, there are still a couple of possible solutions to resolve this lead-contaminated water dilemma. The Flint water crisis is an environmental issue. This crisis is all over news broadcasts and articles, however, no one has wholeheartedly taken initiative for handling this situation. “Every two steps forward, there’s always five steps back…” (3) Residents of this city continue to live with the idea that there is no light at the
end of this tunnel, this is not utterly true. Flint's current lead service lines are ruined and the only way to fix them is by replacing them.(1) Once the pipes are replaced the city will be able to switch to a clean water source. This solution is not as realistic or rational as it sounds. To fundamentally go through with this plan, the affected pipes must be found. Other than it being difficult to find said pipes, this debt and poverty filled town cannot afford such procedure. By studying this Environmental issue you can come to a conclusion as to why there are so many other polluted bodies of water that are being completely ignored. Frankly, the amount of money that goes into the research behind a solution to water pollution is downright riveting. Even after examining the mountains of research that are found such tasks are too difficult to achieve. Research is only the beginning of understanding other environmental issues. Spending loads of money is the key to resolving issues related to these. The flint water crisis has resulted in a series of problems.
Children or individuals of any age are being exposed to the contaminated water. Just like any other type of water pollution, this tainted river is impacting people who live in Flint, Michigan in unpleasant ways which are why they are considered stakeholders. Some have been undergoing serious amounts of trauma due to nonreversible circumstances. However, the majority of exposed children are experiencing permanent brain damage. According to Philip Landrigan, "The problem here is, no level of lead is safe…”(2) This essentially means it doesn't matter how little or how much of this water was consumed by them, it will have the same awful effect. Despite the fact that they are no longer drinking the toxic water, the damage will follow them for the rest of their
lives. Water bottle companies are examples of stakeholders because they are gaining benefits from this ordeal occurring in Flint, Michigan. Furthermore, high-end water bottle companies such as Danone and Nestlé have rapidly increased sales after the crisis broke out in 2015. (4) "There's a great need for donations...”(5) As I've mentioned before, this city is full of individuals who are living in poverty which are why they're in desperate need for bottled water donations and they're not getting them. The amount of bottled water being passed around is not environmentally-friendly nor is it economically-friendly. According to the US environmental protection agency, “...the nation's waterline infrastructure needs more than $384 billion of investment over the next 20 years to maintain safety and dependability.” In essence, these bottled water companies find the flint water catastrophe immensely convenient, whereas Flint residents and those providing for them believe otherwise. It took over a year for the government to actually acknowledge Flint, Michigan's water crisis.
After a failed attempt of relieving the city from debt, the chief of drinking water was suspended without pay. Michigan’s governor, Snyder, has borrowed over $200 million from the government for supplies and has now deepened the state in debt.(6) The government is a stakeholder for this crisis because they're losing money. According to Virginia tech engineering professor, Marc Edward, the US government "exposes a new level of arrogance and uncaring that I have never encountered."(6) The government is being negatively affected by this crisis even though they aren't being as cooperative as they could be. The Flint water crisis is an environmental issue that is yet to be resolved. Many people's lives and jobs are at stake because of this troublesome situation, there seems to be no solution to this catastrophe but there is, it's just difficult to achieve. You always hear of environmental issues commencing, however, have you ever heard of them concluding? Will you ever hear of one
concluding?