TTHM – Trihalomethanes – TTHM was the first major problem with the water after the switch and before the lead was discovered. After the city of Flint decided to save money by switching their water source to the Flint River, citizens raised concerns about the water’s quality. The city claimed the water was safe, while people kept voicing their concerns. Some testing determined that the water had elevated levels of TTHM in it. While switching the water, the city increased the amount of chlorine used in purifying it. This increased level of chlorine was what fueled the growth of the TTHM. The following story dives into the Mayor’s response to the public backlash, the people’s concern, and the cause of the crisis.
LEEANNE WALTERS – Leanne Walters of Flint was the one of the first people to see something wrong with her water and acted on it. She got in contact with Marc Edwards: an Environmental Engineer at Virginia Tech to test the water in everyone’s home to prove the water was poisoned.The results came back revealing that it is a city wide lead problem, and that her home was classified as toxic waste. Leanne has remained active and has testified in front of congress.
PROF. MARC EDWARDS – Marc Edwards is an environmental engineer and professor at Virginia Tech. LeeAnne Walters tracked him down in September 2015 to teach people to test their water. He performed the study that found high lead levels in Flint citizen’s water.
CURT GUYETTE – Curt Guyette is an investigative reporter at the ACLU of Michigan. He was one of the top reporters in Flint Michigan during the water crisis 10 years ago. He was the first journalist to be able to tell people the truth about Flint’s tainted water. He worked alongside Lean Walters and Mark Edwards to get information out.
HURLEY PRESSER – On September 24th, 2015 Flint Pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha held a press conference at Hurley Hospital that took the crisis to another level. She revealed through her research that kids in Flint were being poisoned by lead.
After Dr. Mona laid out the dangers of the blood lead levels, Natasha Henderson, former Flint City administrator and Mark Valacak, former Genesee Health Officer were at the press conference and downplayed big questions asked by the press. When asked about the safety of drinking the water, Henderson insisted that the city was “in compliance” with the Safe Water Drinking Act. And Valacak said that it’s “not unique to Flint”.
Watch the videos down below:
In this video, Dr. Mona shows a huge increase in blood lead levels and Henderson’s response to the press.
In this video, Dr. Mona reveals that lead levels in Flint children doubled after the switch to the Flint River. After this information was given, former Genesee Health Officer Mark Valacak responds to the press, dismissing the lead in the service lines, instead bringing up the lead inside the homes as the major cause for concern.
In this video, Dr. Mona urges that the city should switch back to the Detroit Water Source of Lake Huron. But the city says it’s about the money. The city wouldn’t switch back until October 16th, 2015. About one month after this press conference.
After Dr. Mona lays out the proof that blood lead levels in Flint kids spiked after the switch. The city did not tell the community the water was not safe to drink, instead told the city they are “in compliance” with the Safe Water Drinking Act, and then they turned the attention to the aging Flint water infrastructure, claiming that like most cities old drinking water systems can cause lead issues. What government officials did not mention is that Flint was not like other cities because it was the choice to change water sources and not use correct corrosion controls that caused the lead problem. The same aging pipes carried Lake Huron water to Flint without a lead problem for decades because the water was correctly treated.
DEMOCRATIC DEBATE – March 16, 2016. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met in Flint for a democratic debate. That night, the world had its eyes on Flint. The first thirty minutes of the debate was focused on the Water Crisis. The two candidates discussed the problems in the city in front of a worldwide audience.
PRESIDENT VISITS – In May of 2016 at Flint Northwestern High School. President Obama traveled to Flint, Michigan to hear firsthand from the residents whose lives have been affected by the public health crisis and deliver this message to the Flint community: “I’ve got your back.”
But the president’s visits took a turn for the worse after drinking the Flint water right in front of them implying that the water was safe to drink. and the crowd had a tone of mixed emotions including some boos
Before Obama’s speech, there was a surprise visit from Governor Rick Snyder but people were not having it booing him during his speech. Snyder repeatedly apologized for all his mistakes saying that this short-term water crisis will be fixed.
JESSE JACKSON– Civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson came to Flint numerous times during the Flint water crisis. In February Jackson led a march of thousands through Flint to the water plant. Including Pastor Allen Overton, Malissa Mays, and Judge Greg Mathis along with him. Who spoke about the toxic water, lack of jobs, poverty, and holding the government accountable.
MICHAEL MOORE – On January 16th, 2016, outspoken Genesee County native and documentarian Michael Moore led a rally alongside former Flint Councilman, Wantwaz Davis. During the rally, they expressed their disgust at so many being poisoned by lead water, and the poverty that helped amplify the crisis, asking for then-President Obama to come to Flint, and demanding for Governor Snyder to be charged of his crimes from the crisis.