Poisoned Water Video Response
In the video Poisoned Water published by NOVA, viewers watch as Flint runs into financial issues and makes a large switch that affects the lives of all citizens and causes major health concerns. By switching from Lake Huron to the Flint River, they were now using a different water source and filtration system. Due to some overlooks within the filtration system and visibly discolored, "dirty" water citizens began to investigate whether the water was safe or not, making some shocking discoveries. Water is essential for everyday life and is crucial for people to have access too, but when that water is clearly contaminated and unsafe, many problems arise.
When Flint switched water supplies they went from lake water to river water and switched filtration plants, causing many challenges that only resulted in problems and unsafe drinking water. River water is more challenging to treat than lake water due to; chemical manufacturers along the river, rainwater and snowmelt, road salt, and agricultural runoff. (Poisoned Water, 2017) After the switch was made, citizens began to complain of various symptoms and the city issued a health warning advising to boil the water to kill off any bacteria that may be present. The amount of
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Elin Betanzo and Mona Hanna-Attisha started on a medical research investigation, trying to determine whether the water had effects on the brain and the ways in which children developed. The results were shocking, the water was playing a large role in brain development and synapses not working properly. Another outbreak that was detrimental to the city was Legionnaire's disease, which infected 90 and 12 died from. (Poisoned Water, 2017) When the water was becoming that large of a problem to the citizens, that’s when the city knew they had to make a switch and admit their problems they were