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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMichigan Officials Quietly Gave Bottled Water To State Employees Months Before Flint Residents
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2016/01/28/3743987/flint-water-state-employees/Flint switched its water source from Detroit to the Flint River in April 2014, which is now known to have caused lead to leach into the citys tap water. After two boil advisories were issued in August and September of 2014, the city sent residents a notice that the level of trihalomethanes (TTHMs), which can cause liver and kidney problems, had exceed federal limits, although they were told that it was still fine to use the water and no corrective actions needed to be taken.
But concerns raised over water quality were enough for officials in the states capitol of Lansing to decide to give state employees the option to drink bottled water from coolers, rather than from water fountains. Coolers were placed next to the fountains on each occupied floor, according to the documents, and were to be provided as long as the public water does not meet treatment requirements.
For residents, however, it took researchers uncovering elevated levels of lead in childrens bloodstreams for a lead advisory to finally be issued in September of 2015. Residents were told not to drink the water and a public health emergency was declared by the Genesee County Health Department in October, and Flints mayor declared a state of emergency in December. The National Guard was activated in January of this year to distribute water from five fire stations a full year after water was brought in for state employees out of concern over water quality.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)And you ain't in it.
libodem
(19,288 posts)To formulate a strong Class Action Suit.
Anyone who paid their water bill deserves a refund and anyone whom is in arrears should be forgiven.
Dammit.
2pooped2pop
(5,420 posts)Don't assume your water is good either. The rich have been laughing at us for actually drinking water from our faucets for a long time. If you think the oil wars are bad, just wait for the water wars.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Kip Humphrey
(4,753 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,508 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Michale Moore stated it correctly.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)I forgot.
IOKIYAR.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)KNR
Kingofalldems
(38,508 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)Must protect government employees.
PeoViejo
(2,178 posts)Henry Kissinger
bullwinkle428
(20,631 posts)Some people need to go directly to jail - do not pass GO!
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)malaise
(269,278 posts)Off to prison
Takket
(21,702 posts)Feds need to be all over this. I don't trust the Rethug AG in MI to "investigate" this crime.
roamer65
(36,748 posts)The governor, lt gov and AG need to be removed from office and special appointments need to be made by the Feds. The Reconstruction amendments to the U.S. Constitution allow for it.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)TeamPooka
(24,292 posts)They knew way before it became public. They knew!
Snyder needs to be replaced by an emergency manager and hauled out in chains.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Dick "SCAMWAY" and Betsy (sis o' Erik Prince) DeVos and the Koch brothers class. They're really into the whole trickle down thing, seeing their billions grow and grow, thanks to tax codes written by their lobbyists in Lansing and Washington, while the middle class disappears into that fastest growing segment, the poor.