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The Environmental Protection Agency needs to strengthen its oversight of public drinking water programs to avoid a repetition of what happened in Flint, Michigan, where a slow federal response meant that residents were exposed to contaminated water. "The supervisory authority is vital, but its absence can contribute to a catastrophic situation," said EPA's Inspector General, Arthur A. Elkins, when publishing the findings, according to which "while the inhabitants of Flint The federal government's response has been delayed in part because the EPA has not clearly established the roles and responsibilities, the risk badessment procedures, the effective communication and proactive monitoring tools. "
The EPA was not the only one unable to cope with the crisis that paralyzed a city of nearly 100,000 people, including exposing Thousands of young children in the leadership In particular, state authorities failed to put in place adequate treatment after Flint changed drinking water sources in early 2014 and ignored the warnings of riparian on the deteriorating the quality of water
. not to use his enforcement authority more quickly to ensure that state officials and local authorities comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, as well as 39, the federal rules that require lead testing.
from Lake Huron, with anti-corrosion chemicals added along the way. But in early 2014, with the city under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager, officials opted for Flint River's water in an unfortunate effort to save money. money.
new source of water. This failure allowed rust, iron and lead to escape aging pipes and end up in residents' homes. The disaster that followed has exposed thousands of children to high levels of lead, which can cause long-term physical damage and mental disorders.
The crisis has also erased residents' trust in the government. For more than a year, local residents and activists complained of water – related problems, insisting that it caused rashes and other health problems. . An EPA employee also warned the superiors of potential contamination.
But these red flags were largely ignored. This is only later, after a local pediatrician late 2015, blood lead levels skyrocketed in some local children and journalists began to publicize the water problems, as governments began to act quickly
. by the state and the city. His regional chief resigned – as had the director of water quality a few weeks ago. The National Guard distributed bottled water and water filters were distributed.
Since a task force began investigating the debacle in early 2016, the Attorney General of Michigan has filed criminal charges against more than a dozen state and local officials. now facing multiple crimes – as well as civil suits against outside companies that have worked with Flint's water system.
While much of the attention in Flint focuses on contaminated lead lead exposing thousands of potential young children to long-term health risks, the crisis has also been linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that contributed to at least a dozen deaths. These cases eventually culminated in Wednesday's charges for top state health officials, as well as for his chief medical director.
Read more:
"If I could afford to leave, I would do it.
Flint's water crisis reveals government failures at all levels
Flint falls below federal boundaries, but residents are still encouraged to use filtered water
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