As lawmakers continue debating federal aid for those affected by the drinking water crisis in Flint, the city’s residents are still struggling with the effects of poor public policy decisions.
Perhaps the most significant policy impacts resulting from the crisis are an increased focus on the vital importance of safe drinking water, the acute need for a modern and dependable water infrastructure, and the very real dangers of neglecting those priorities.
The focus of this tragedy must be shifted to the key issue plaguing the citizens of Flint: aging water infrastructure.
Like many other cities in the U.S., Flint’s water pipeline network is largely composed of iron and lead pipes that were laid more than a century ago. According to an article in Fortune, the acidic water corroded the old pipelines over time and ultimately allowed lead and iron compounds to infiltrate the water supply.
Read more on The Detroit News.