How Flint Got Here.

 

Flint, Michigan was once a thriving industrial city, known as the birthplace of General Motors and a symbol of American manufacturing. In its prime, Flint offered steady jobs and economic opportunity, drawing thousands of workers and their families. However, the city’s prosperity began to fade in the late 20th century as GM downsized and eventually closed many of its plants. The loss of jobs led to a steep economic decline, rising poverty rates, and a shrinking population. Flint became one of the poorest cities in the country, struggling to maintain its infrastructure and basic services.

In 2014, in an effort to cut costs, Governor Rick Synder decided to switch Flint’s water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River. (The Flint Water Crisis begins | April 25, 2014) The river had long been known for its poor water quality, but the switch was made without properly upgrading the city’s water treatment system. As a result, the water was not treated with corrosion control chemicals, which are necessary to prevent lead from leaching out of aging pipes. This failure allowed dangerous levels of lead to contaminate the water supply. Despite complaints from residents and clear warning signs, officials dismissed concerns, causing a public health crisis that would unfold over several years.