Document based questions: flint michigan water crisis
on april 25, 2014, flint, whose population had dwindled from more than 195.000 in
1960 to fewer than 100.000 people, switched to using the flint river as its water supply.
the city had drawn water from detroit's system for decades, but it was expensive, and so
flint joined efforts to create a new, regional system that would draw water from lake
huron. costs had become a central concem in a city that has lost thousands of auto
industry jobs. fiscal troubles were so significant that the state sent an emergency
manager with ultimate decision-making power to oversee a recovery. until the new
pipeline to lake huron was constructed, the city would take its water from the flint
river, which the city had used as a backup. city icaders toasted the switch with cups of
water residents were less sure. for years the flint river had been a dumping ground-
for cars and even bodies. aware of the doubts, the city's first news release on the switch
trumpeted state and local officials' assurances. then came the odd colors from the tap
greens and browns -- and the offensive smells and tastes. soon there were reports of
rashes and clumps of hair falling out. parts from a general motors engine plant here were
corroding, so the company stopped using flint's water.

whose responsibility was it to ensure healthy living conditions (e. clean drinking
water) for the citizens of flint?

• what were the warning signs city officials ignored? why?