Water Quality Crisis in Flint, Michigan – Should You Be Concerned?

Should those of us living in the Chicago area be concerned about the tainted water north of us?

Have you heard? There’s a water quality crisis in Flint, Michigan. It began in 2011 when Flint city officials took cost-cutting measures and turned to the Flint River as a water source. These cost-cutting measures led to tainted drinking water containing lead and other toxins. Because Flint is located 70 miles north of Detroit, Michigan, the tainted water supply affects others downstream. Should those of us living in the Chicago area be concerned about the tainted water north of us?

Why Water Quality for Flint, Michigan Residents is Poor

The water quality in the Flint River downstream of Flint has been poor since the 1970s. Here’s why:

1. It was severely degraded during the 1970s, due to “the presence of fecal coliform bacteria, low dissolved oxygen, plant nutrients, oils, and toxic substances.“
2. The river water was found to be 19 times more corrosive than water from Detroit, which was from Lake Huron, according to a study by Virginia Tech.
3. Since the water wasn’t properly treated, lead from aging service lines to homes began leaching into the Flint water supply. There are medications to reduce the amount of lead in the blood, but treatments for the health effects of lead have yet to be developed. What are the adverse health effects of lead exposure?

• In children – impaired cognition, behavioral disorders, hearing problems and delayed puberty.
• In pregnant women – reduced fetal growth
• In everyone – affected heart, kidneys and nerves

As early as 2007, Flint prepared to tap into the Flint River as a backup water source, in spite of residents’ concerns about sewage spills and industrial waste. Since then,

• efforts to obtain water from Lake Huron and the city of Detroit
• advisories to boil water
• additions of chlorine to water sources
• deaths and illnesses
• tests for and discoveries of HIGH lead contamination in Flint residents’ drinking water
• calls for a state of emergency
• law suits
• and resignations

increased significantly in 2014 through 2016. And the people of Flint are STILL dealing with lead in their water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Do you find the latest reassuring? “As of January 24, 2017, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality says that lead levels in the city’s water tested below the federal limit in a recent six-month study.”

How can ANY amount of lead in water used for drinking, cooking or bathing be “safe”?

Improve the Water Quality in Your Home

Improve the water quality in your home and get cleaner water for your family today! Blue Frost Heating & Cooling is here to help. Stop guessing about which filtration method is right for your home. You can rely on us to answer your questions and point you in the right direction for the best water filtration system your family. Our Blue Frost Heating & Cooling plumbing specialists are licensed to install water filtration systems that meet your specific needs. Contact Blue Frost Heating & Cooling today at (630) 444-0860 for a free consultation.

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Resource and link attribution for this blog post: CNN’s Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts