Even if it’s easy to forget, water is a precious natural resource. If anything happened to it — like its availability, for one — then it would mean the well-being of people and animals alike would be at risk. It’s no small wonder, then, that the citizens of Flint, Michigan, are taking their water crisis very seriously. The alternative could lead to irreparable damage.
The problem started back in 2014, when the town decided to draw water from the Flint River instead of Detroit. The water itself wasn’t and still isn’t the problem, since it’s been successfully treated; unfortunately, the river’s product has proven corrosive enough to pull lead from old pipes into the water, and as a result infect people with dangerous amounts of the metal. The situation has reached a point where Flint’s officials have declared a public health emergency, and cautioned against using water for anything but the bare necessities until the problem is resolved.
It’s a warning that’s likely been well-heeded. Water with high concentrations of lead has been linked to multiple health issues such as rashes and hair loss. More pressingly, studies have shown that lead poisoning can cause problems with a child’s brain development, including a shortened attention span, dyslexia, or even a permanently-reduced IQ. There’s no telling when Flint will have the problem solved, but one can only hope it’s sooner rather than later.
