Lead in Drinking Water in Flint

Question 1

Where did the drinking water for Flint come from prior to 2014?

Answer 1

Detroit, specifically Lake Huron

Question 2

Where did the new supply of drinking water come from?

Answer 2

Flint River

Question 3

Where was the new supply of drinking water treated?

Answer 3

Old Flint Water Plant

Question 4

Describe the main aspects of the treatment of drinking water at Flint

Answer 4

Coagulation (gets rid of 90-95% of particulates in water by sinking to bottom of tank), then filtered through sand then carbon to get rest of particulates, then fluorine and chlorine added to kill shit

Question 5

What bacteria were found in Flint’s drinking water not long after the switch?

Answer 5

E. coli

Question 6

How were the harmful bacteria killed?

Answer 6

Added more chlorine, but created toxic by-products by reacting with organic matter

Question 7

Max allowable lead in drinking water, as recommended by EPA, was 15ppb (1.5ug/dL). Some houses in Flint had values into 100s or 1000s of ppb

Answer 7

EPA has set max contaminant lvl goal for Pb in drinking water at zero b/c lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to health even at low exposure lvls. Lead is persistent, can bioaccumulate in body over time

Question 8

Lead tricks the body into thinking it is ___, which is a mineral that is essential for ____

Answer 8

Calcium, neuron transmission

Question 9

Most volume loss in brain from lead poisoning is in the ____, which controls ____

Answer 9

Front lobe, controls what makes us human -> judgement, decision making, personality, reasoning

Question 10

What parts of the drinking water supply system in Flint were potential sources of lead?

Answer 10

Service pipes to homes, in house: Pb solder for connecting pipes, Pb in brass (faucets and valves), Pb in galvanized iron

Question 11

What type of chemicals did Flint fail to add to their drinking water?

Answer 11

Orthophosphates for corrosion control
- Corrosion of Fe water mains, and breakdown of protective scale on Pb service pipes

Question 12

Describe how the outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease in Flint was related to drinking water supply?

Answer 12

Bacteria should’ve been killed by chlorine, but chlorine was reacting with rusted iron in the pipes b/c no corrosion control. Fe leached into the water mains and reacted with chlorine. There wasn’t enough chlorine left to kill the Legionnaire bacteria.

Question 13

How long did the citizens of Flint drink Pb-contaminated water for?

Answer 13

18 months