Overview

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Throughout the years, several environmental disasters managed to unveil that racism that is hidden in society, few were as successful as The Flint Water Crisis. The Flint Water Crisis started in 2014 after the city decided to switch water suppliers from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) in order to save the city $200 million over 25 years. After terminating their contract in April 2014, the city temporarily(while a pipeline to KWA was being built) used the Flint River as their water supply. The Flint River was previously used as the city’s main water source until the 1960s when a sudden increase in population forced the city to look for alternative sources of water.

Soon after the switch, city residents complained about the quality, specifically color, smell, and taste of the water. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)—the government agency overseeing drinking water—continually dismissed and denied allegations towards the quality of water.