The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that lead levels in the water in Flint, Michigan, are now below federal safety limits. This comes after a decade since the city, in an attempt to cut costs, exposed over 100,000 individuals, including children, to lead contamination from aging pipes. Despite this improvement, many residents still have doubts about the water quality in their homes.
Melissa Mays, a prominent advocate in Flint and a lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit related to the lead exposure, expresses that little has changed in the city since 2014. This was the year when Flint switched its water source from Detroit's system to the Flint River, a move that led to the release of lead into the water supply due to the corrosive chemicals used for purification. The incident resulted in a significant increase in lead levels in children's blood and potentially contributed to a deadly Legionnaire's disease outbreak.
Mays, who used to only take a daily multivitamin and drink tap water for her workouts, now has to take 15 prescribed pills every day.
"We're trying to be civil, and yet no one's in jail. The pipes aren't replaced; the yards aren't fixed," she said. "We don't have health care."
And the city's children have faced the risk of lifelong health effects. "It's pretty stunning that to this day, we continue to use the bodies of our kids as detectors of environmental contamination," said pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, whose work spurred official action on the crisis.
The results of children's blood tests by the summer of 2015 were a red flag for Hanna-Attisha, who released her findings that September. The city switched its water source back to Detroit's system less than a month later, but by then exposure was widespread. Hanna-Attisha estimates as many as 14,000 children were affected. Lead is a neurotoxin that's especially harmful to children, who may suffer developmental delays, lasting behavioral problems and lower IQs as a result.
The federal government declared an emergency for Flint in January 2016. Six months later, tests revealed lead levels in Flint's water had returned to what's considered acceptable under federal standards.
Hanna-Attisha said the ongoing work to replace the pipes has the potential to release more lead from them, and wouldn't describe Flint's water as "safe."
Flint Crisis Continues: Lead Filters Still Recommended
Despite ongoing efforts to replace lead pipes in Flint, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still recommends the use of lead filters in the city as a precautionary measure. Many pipes in Flint have not yet been replaced, prompting the continued use of filters to ensure safe drinking water.
Dr. Hanna-Attisha, associate dean for public health at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine, expressed concerns about the current drinking water regulations. She stated, "Understanding the inadequacy of our drinking water rules, I cannot say 'safe,' I can say it's in compliance with rules. But those rules are not fully protective, especially of our children."
In response to the crisis, the community has established the Flint Registry to track and address the impact of lead exposure. With over 20,000 registrants, the registry has facilitated over 30,000 connections to support services and programs.
Lead exposure, especially in children, can have devastating effects on cognitive function and behavior. Dr. Hanna-Attisha emphasized, "As a pediatrician, we know what lead does. It's damning. It is a potent, irreversible neurotoxin. There is no safe level. It erodes cognition, it twists behavior. It can alter the life course of a child. And worse, it can alter the life course of a population of children."
James Proulx, a parent whose 8-year-old daughter was exposed to lead, likened the crisis to a pandemic. He joined a class action lawsuit seeking justice for his daughter and other affected individuals. Upon discovering lead in his daughter's blood, Proulx expressed deep concern for her well-being.
"There's learning disabilities that go along with it. So I thought, you know, she's going to be up for a tough future," he said.
As "Little Miss Flint," pageant winner Mari Copeny earned national recognition at just 8 years old for drawing attention to the issue, first helping distribute bottled water and later her own brand of water filters.
"We still don't have clean water. Isn't that so crazy? Isn't that so crazy? ... They, the people in charge, don't care. They literally don't care. Because if they cared, our pipes would have been fixed. We would have been had clean, safe drinking water," she said. "There is no reason as to why we should still have bad toxic drinking water. And like, where is our clean water? We've been fighting for so long since 2014. Yet no clean water, no pipe dream fixed."
Now nearly 17, Copeny doesn't anticipate an end to the work.
"It's not just Flint that has a water crisis. America has a water crisis. And my filters, they're all over. They're all over because everybody deserves clean drinking water. Nobody deserves to have toxic water," she said. "Everybody says clean water. It's a basic human need. It's what we need to live and survive."
One resident, Nate Campbell, shared with CBS News that the crisis in Flint is still very much on people's minds. Construction is still ongoing across town to replace the city's pipes, and it remains the first topic of conversation when people discover someone is from Flint.
"I believe there is much more work that still needs to be done to hold accountable those responsible," Campbell expressed.
Seven years after the crisis began, former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and eight other current and former Michigan officials faced charges related to the scandal. However, these charges were dismissed last year after the state Supreme Court deemed that a one-judge grand jury was improperly utilized to file the charges.
When CBS News contacted the EPA for information regarding Flint's water, an agency spokesperson stated, "Flint's water system consistently tests below action levels for lead and copper. Residual chlorine levels also meet water quality standards."
Statement from the EPA
Ensuring clean water for every community is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. The EPA is actively working to guarantee that families can trust the safety of their tap water. Efforts to secure safe drinking water for the residents of Flint, Michigan are ongoing, with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy taking the lead in ensuring compliance with safe drinking water standards. The EPA and EGLE oversee and monitor the compliance of public water systems in Michigan, including Flint, and provide technical assistance to support the city in maintaining compliance and enhancing its capacity.
On a national scale, the EPA is dedicated to collaborating with states and communities to safeguard the health of children and families and to eliminate lead from the nation's drinking water systems. With the significant investment of $15 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, progress is being made towards President Biden's goal of 100% lead-free water systems nationwide.
Background
Ten years ago, Flint switched its drinking water source from the Great Lakes to the Flint River, leading to a public health crisis due to insufficient treatment of the river's corrosive water. This resulted in elevated lead levels in the city's water supply. In response, the EPA issued an emergency order in 2016 to address the situation and protect residents. Since then, Flint's water system has consistently tested below action levels for lead and copper, with chlorine levels meeting quality standards.
EPA has been working closely with Flint and the State of Michigan to ensure full compliance with all actions required by the federal order. Key improvements include the following:
- Flint constructed a backup pipeline connecting treated water from the Genesee County Drain Commission to the Flint Public Water System as a secondary, back-up source of water. A reliable backup is critical to maintain service during an emergency and during routine maintenance and repairs.
- The city and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) completed comprehensive study on corrosion control and pipe loops to determine optimal treatment. That treatment regimen --now in place-- ensures lead levels stay well below the action level.
- Flint now has more permanent staff at its drinking water plant and has developed new and updated standard operating procedures. As of January 2023, the city has 11 state-certified, licensed drinking water operators. Adequate staffing is key to ensuring safe, efficient, and effective operations.
EPA efforts to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for Flint residents are ongoing. EGLE has primary authority for Michigan's safe drinking water program and works with Flint to ensure compliance. EPA and EGLE oversee and track compliance of public water systems in Michigan, including Flint. EPA also provides direct technical assistance to help Flint maintain compliance and build capacity.
Under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016, Flint received over $100 million in grants from the EPA for upgrading its system. The EPA has also been actively involved in engaging with Flint residents and stakeholders through a comprehensive program. In the previous summer, the EPA organized two community workshops, the first one focusing on water safety, testing, and filters, and the second one on the continuous redevelopment of the Buick City-RACER Trust site.
For further details, please visit EPA's website on the Flint response.
