Madi Thoele, 4th Period: 5 Months of Unsafe Water in Flint

Summary: It's been 5 months since Flint, Michigan can't drink their tap water. Not one lead service line has been replaced yet. Despite testing that shows water lead levels have dropped in many homes, there are still over 600 homes where the water tested well above the EPA's emergency level for lead. When the state switched the city's water supply to the Flint River, it didn't correctly treat the water, and the water corroded the pipes, leaking into the water supply. Even though the water switched back, the pipes are damaged, and lead still taints the water. Citizens believe the water will not be safe until the lead service lines are replaced. Mayor Karen Weaver asked for $55 million to replace about 8,000 lead service lines. No one really knows how many homes have them. Record-keeping in Flint was bad, so officials are unsure. The state of Michigan, which failed to treat the Flint River water, pledged $58 million to Flint, but none of that is for the replacement of lead service lines. The governor proposed $25 million for infrastructure in his budget proposal, but that money won't come until October. 

Analysis: It's awful how Flint has been without safe water for this long. It's especially dangerous for children, because lead damages developing minds. This event can be compared to the Great Depression. Lack of tap water causes a high demand for bottled water, so the price has inflated dramatically. On the contrary, due to debt and job loss, no one could afford to buy anything other than necessities during the Great Depression. This caused overproduction of crops, and the farmer's revolt started. Farmers would burn crops and stop delivery trucks.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/04/us/flint-update-five-months-later/index.html