The Fear of Water in Flint

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The story of the poisoning of the water in Flint, Michigan, has become a dark fable about government negligence, woeful infrastructure, and the hubris of public officials. In April, 2014, the city switched its municipal water source from Detroit’s system to the infamously polluted Flint River, and neglected to add chemicals that would prevent lead from leaching from the city’s pipes into the water. We know now that the water was severely contaminated with lead and bacteria, but, for months, officials reassured residents that the water was safe and were dismissive of evidence to the contrary.