The water crisis in Flint, Michigan was far from an isolated set of unfortunate circumstances. In 2014, the decision was taken to switch the city water supply from the established Detroit water system to the Flint River, which was known to contain sewage, chemicals and other toxic elements.

Raw river water was to be temporarily – and inadequately – treated in the disused, out-of-date local plant, before flowing into houses, schools and businesses across the city.

Deadly Lead Exposure

Flow it did, complete with toxic containments, industrial effluents – and lead. Flint residents – including thousands of children – drank, cooked in and washed with the unsafe, brown water until activists and worried parents succeeded in dragging …