FLINT, MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND SYSTEMS FAILURE
Angela Huston Gold
In 2013, Municipal authorities in Flint Michigan, USA, decided to change the source of drinking water for the city. The reason? To save money. They were facing crippling debt and were under emergency financial management. They chose to change the long-term water source from Detroit municipal system to the Flint River. The river is high in salts that can cause the water to leach heavy metals from inside pipes into the water. There was a simple solution to make the water safe – add an anti-corrosion agent for $100 per day. Instead, the managers were focused on cutting costs, and when they realised they could legally skip this step, they did.
The people of Flint, the majority African American and many living along the poverty line, complained immediately about the colour, taste, and smell of the water. Many became ill, developing skin rashes, and experiencing hair loss. They filed formal complaints and organised meetings, studies, and campaigns. City leaders dismissed these concerns and continued to tell them the water was safe.
Meanwhile, at least 10 people died, and many more became ill or experienced anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Those responsible – elected officials at city and state level, technocrats and emergency managers – were focused on cutting costs. No one cared about the safety or concerns of citizens.
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It was only 18 months after initial complaints that city officials acknowledged the high levels of lead in the water, after a high-profile scientific study provided undeniable evidence. The residents were suffering from lead poisoning. And the problem is not fully resolved to this day. Many residents continue to suffer from ill health, low fertility and low birth-weight babies. Young people are also experiencing behavioural issues and cognitive impairment. Many are too frightened to use tap water now.
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Flint is a classic case of environmental injustice and leadership failure. It is a man-made disaster. Faced with bankruptcy, degrading infrastructure, and the urgent demands and concerns of citizens, poor leaders get caught up in complexity and ‘emergency mode' and forget their purpose. Systems leaders need to be able to hold their centre and stay focused on the goal of the system – in Flint's case, keeping citizens safe.
