Poisoned Promises: The Tragedy of Flint's Water Crisis
What is the Flint Water Crisis?
Beginning in 2014, residents of Flint, Michigan, were exposed to dangerously high levels of lead in their drinking water. This water crisis did not occur out of nowhere but was the result of a series of policy decisions, infrastructural failures, and socio-economic neglect. Flint, once a thriving industrial city, faced economic decline since the late 20th century, which lead to significant budget shortfalls and a decrease in population. In an attempt to cut costs, the city switched its water source from Lake Huron, via Detroit's system, to the Flint River in April 2014. The Flint River, however, was known to be more corrosive, and without proper anti-corrosive treatments, lead leached from aging pipes into the water supply. Residents quickly noticed the change in water quality, but their complaints were initially dismissed by city and state officials. It was not until late 2015, after independent studies confirmed elevated lead levels in the water and in children's blood, that the full scale of the crisis became undeniable. The Flint water crisis exemplifies environmental racism and slow violence, as systemic neglect and discriminatory policies disproportionately exposed Flint’s predominantly Black and low-income residents to prolonged toxic lead contamination, causing enduring health and social consequences.
Water is a fundamental human right, essential for survival. Yet, access to clean and safe drinking water remains a significant issue, particularly for marginalized communities. Globally, millions suffer from water-related injustices due to pollution, climate change, and inadequate infrastructure. In the United States, water injustice is often closely tied to broader issues of environmental racism and socioeconomic inequality, with certain populations disproportionately bearing the burden of contaminated water and insufficient water management. One of the most popular instances of water injustice is the Flint Water Crisis. Despite there being high levels of lead in the drinking, the government failed to make changes to provide clean water to their low-income residents.