Internal emails, obtained by NBC News, were written by Governor Rick Snyder’s former chief of staff, Dennis Muchmore, to the state health department saying he was frustrated by the water issue in Flint.
Advertisement
But in an effort to cut costs, Flint’s emergency manager, Ed Kurtz, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R), chose to switch the city’s water source to the corrosive and polluted Flint River instead.
Residents soon began complaining that the foul, cloudy water was making them vomit, break out in rashes and lose their hair. The salt corroded the lead in the pipes, causing the water to be contaminated.
The Detroit Free Press reports Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha found blood-lead levels in kids living in Flint had doubled in recent years.
DOJ launched an investigation over allegations that Michigan’s highest officials knew Flint’s tap water had been contaminated, long before emergency was declared. Lead can cause permanent health impacts including memory loss and developmental impairment.
“We haven’t seen the worst yet, with these children coming up”, Sharon Owensby said, referring to brain damage and other health effects that children can suffer as a result of lead poisoning.
Before April 2014, the water flowing through taps in Flint, Michigan, came from Lake Huron, which was supplied by the Detroit Water and Sewage Department.
But despite pressure from the federal environment agency, and water tests showing unsafe levels of lead in homes across Flint, it was months before city and state officials moved to fix the problem.
She discussed the need for additional social services with Snyder, who agreed during their meeting to transition power back to local authorities.
Advertisement
According to Weaver, the costs for treating and repairing Flint’s water distribution system will likely be $1.5 billion, which some protesters believe was the possible reason why Governor Snyder hesitated with action.
