Public Risk Management

Causes of the Flint Water Crisis In 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan, took a cost-saving measure by switching its water supply from the city of Detroit—which drew from Lake Huron—to Flint River. During this change, Flint water officials did not take the required steps to manage the water chemistry of Flint River, which has more corrosive water than Lake Huron. The untreated corrosion caused the aging pipes in Flint homes to leak lead into the tap water, exposing residents to a high level of lead over time. This likely would not have happened if the water supply was properly treated with an anti-corrosion agent. In October, 2015, the city of Flint went back to using water from Detroit, but there was an ongoing concern that home pipes were still leaking lead into the tap water.