The long-lasting legacy of Flint’s water crisis

A decade ago, one of the worst human-caused environmental disasters in recent US history unfolded in the city of Flint, Michigan. Amid financial turmoil, the city switched its source of drinking water and thereby unleashed a crisis that exposed tens of thousands of residents to lead—a potent neurotoxin—and potentially carcinogenic compounds called trihalomethanes. The switch also led to outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. Despite community protests and reports of skin rashes and hair loss, officials insisted that the water was safe to drink. Independent testing by scientists proved otherwise, forcing the city to eventually acknowledge the problem and act. Ten years later, Flint residents are still awaiting justice as they continue to grapple with serious health issues caused by the water crisis. Seeing people drink from a water fountain or directly from a tap fills Jamie Davis with anxiety. "I'm like, 'Oh my goodness.' I want to stop them," she says.