Dr.

Taylor

Flint Water Crisis

PPA 483

Mellad Doudzai
2-14-2017
Introduction

More than two years ago, a city in the United States was deprived of clean potable water

to its citizens due to the government officials irresponsibility. The state of Michigan had

decided to switch water sources to save money annually, which turned out to be a huge disaster

for the city of Flint (Masten, 2016). That city and its residents are still struggling to find clean

water. This issue in the country has not been solved yet, nor has it been receiving the amount of

attention it deserves. Government officials, including the Governor of Michigan, have proposed

several plans. While these plans are extensive and well thought out, they havent been

implemented. One reason that the plans have not been implemented is the continued partisan

issues in the policymaking process (Rosner, 2016). It is apparent that the federal government of

the United States can fund or even borrow to help solve the Flint Water Crisis, but to pass larger

federal aid packages and to have the greatest impact, political support is needed.

Completely solving the disaster will cost over a billion dollars, but this should not

discourage donors from donating. Last year, the Flint Mayor said that the replacement of water

pipes throughout the city could cost as much as 1.5 billion dollars (Botelho, 2016). Given 500

million dollars in spending and investing, a lot of things can be done to help solve the water

crisis in Flint. Immediate action is a more ideal approach than a long-term plan due to the needs

of the Flint citizens. April 2017 of this year will mark the third-year anniversary of the time

when high levels of lead and copper poisoned consumers of Flint water (Derringer, 2016). The

three-year anniversary of the Flint water crisis is nothing to celebrate, but to offer a reminder to

donors and government officials that a city in the United States of America is still without clean

potable water. There must be more action taken rather than planning to help the individuals of
Flint. Three years have passed and the people of Flint, Michigan cannot wait any longer to

receive proper assistance.

Background

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city makes up an estimate of 98,310

in population size in 2016 and 56.6% of which are African American. In addition, 41.2% of

citizens of flint are declared to be living under poverty line (US Census, 2016). The city and its

inhabitants are struggling to receive the proper aid from the state and federal government in

regards to the water crisis, as well as financial assistance. Just like Detroit, Flint considered filing

for bankruptcy due to the migration of home and business owners in 2014 (Winkler, 2016). The

people of Flint are not only suffering with the contamination of their water, but also with making

ends meet within their poor economy.

In 2013, the city switched their water source from Lake Huron to the Flint river (Masten,

2016). The governments decision to switch water sources to cut costs, even though they were

warned of the consequences, shows that they prioritized money over their residents health and

quality of life. Medical professionals identified over a hundred cases of children who had

elevated lead levels in their body (Karoub 2016). It was apparent that after the water source

switch was implemented, doctors received an increased number of patients with higher than

normal lead levels in their blood. Having to bathe in dirty water, cook with bottled water, using

water filters that might not be effective are the struggles Flint residents have been facing for the

past two years.

Lead and copper were the two chemical elements that were predominant in the testing of

the citys tap water. High exposure of such chemicals in drinking water can be detrimental to
individuals of all age groups. Children are the most vulnerable to lead in drinking water. Damage

to the brain and nervous system have been linked to children who were exposed to lead (Basic

Information about Lead in Drinking Water, 2016). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

were aware of the dangerous lead levels of the water but failed to release this highly important

information to the public (Masten, 2016). Preventive acts, such as a public service

announcement, could have been used by government administrators to avoid this issue but it is

too late to ponder on those scenarios. Action must be taken to save the residents of Flint,

especially those must vulnerable to the contaminated water, the children and elderly.

Theory of Leverage/Inputs

The social problem in this situation is that the people of flint need a clean water source,

and they needed it three years ago. The use of 500 million dollars would be a great contributor in

helping this cause. An operating foundation would be built to last about five years in efforts of

helping the people of Flint. The goal of this project is to assist the people of need in Flint,

Michigan, without any delays. Volunteers, medical physicians, and clinical psychologists will all

be needed to help push the Doudzai Foundation for the people of Flint.

Activities

The initial objective is to provide residents with water bottles and high quality filters t as

a temporary fix while the project is taking place over the course of five years. Aquasana, a water

filter retailer, started a Buy one, Give One campaign in efforts to provide home water filters to

Flint, Michigan. This campaign promised its consumers that for every water filter purchased,

another will be donated to a family in the city of Flint, Michigan (Bartee, 2016). The campaign is

over but the water filters at Aquasana website are still up for sale. A whole house filter system
which distributes 1,000,000 gallons of water, costs $2,270.58 after tax per household. The price

of the water filter is expensive, but the filters operate at a high-performance level. It has a salt-

free water softener, starlight UV filter, and a pro grade install kit to improve the quality of water.

The product is expected to last for 10 years and is certified by the National Science Foundation

(NSF) to filter out heavy metals like copper and lead (10 Year Whole House Water Filter, 2017).

Establishing a community foundation would be the next step in which a huge amount of

the gift will be directed towards to. The Sean Anderson Foundation, a nonprofit organization,

was created by celebrity, Big Sean, in which was organized to assist people in Flint, Michigan.

Big Sean kick started the foundation with a gift of $10,000 in which has accumulated up to

$100,000 with the help of donors (Steinberg, 2017). The Doudzai Foundation for the people of

Flint will follow the steps of the Sean Anderson Foundation except it will be on a larger scale

and will be focused solely on helping the people of Flint, nothing else. The foundation will be

staffed with volunteers, medical physicians, researchers, and clinical psychologists.

Outputs

As the theory goes as planned, all homeowners will receive a high-performance water

filter system from Aquasana that will provide potable water for Flint residents. The admitted

volunteers will help collect contributions from donors who are willing to work together with the

Doudzai foundation. Medical professions will treat victims of contaminated water. Researchers

will be provided with incentives to find treatment for patients suffering from brain/nervous

system damage. Clinical psychologists or therapists will be a necessary aid to the people of Flint

as well to help patients to cope with the past negative experiences they may have faced.

Workshops and information sessions will also be provided to residents of Flint, in order to

educate individuals who are not fully aware of the harmful effects that may come along with the
exposure of lead in their water supply. The theory will focus primarily on the distribution of vital

water filters for every household in Flint, Michigan. The rest of the funds will be used to start up

the Doudzai Foundation alongside the operating budget, which will include the salaries for the

medical physicians and clinical psychologists.

Outcome/Societal Impact

The guided assistance from the Doudzai foundation and delivery of high quality house

water filters will most likely improve the quality of life for residents of Flint Michigan. Families

that will be using the house filter that were delivered to them, will no longer use the high number

of plastic bottles as they once would have. By doing so, this will benefit the environment due to

lower consumption of plastic in the region of Flint, Michigan. According to Christina Zdanowicz

of CNN, an average Flint family uses 151 plastic water bottles. The plastic bottles were primarily

used for drinking, cooking, cleaning needs, and hygienic needs (Zdanowicz, 2016). The

Aquasana water filters will allow families to go back to the conventional ways that they were

once accustomed to, like any other average household in America.

Another broad impact that is most likely going to occur is the decreased amount of

burden for the state and local government. In this case, the only long-term goal the

governments need to focus on is to replace the pipelines in Flint, Michigan. The Doudzai

Foundation does not believe that other individuals should pay for the governments irresponsible

mistakes or inaccurate decision-making. The aid to individuals and families in Flint, Michigan

deserve the most attention and care at this moment.

Lastly, the Doudzai Foundation hopes to ensure that the donations and efforts reach the

people of Flint, Michigan. Creating awareness is also an outcome that will hopefully touch other
peoples minds and hearts of who were not affected, because the Flint Water Crisis might not be

the last time a city in America will experience the same thing. Prevention is as important as

corrective actions is a belief that the Doudzai Foundation holds. It is the organizations goal to

prove to its donors that their contributions will make a monumental impact in the city of Flint,

Michigan and its residents.

 References

Bartee, T. (2016, March 26). Successful Donation Campaign Ends, Filters For Flint. Retrieved

February 14, 2017, from http://www.aquasana.com/news/aquasana-donate-filters-to-flint-mi

Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water. (2016, December 12). Retrieved February 14,

2017, from https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-

lead-drinking-water#health

Derringer, N. (2016, October 25). Why Flint's lead pipe replacement costs so much, and moves

so slowly. Retrieved February 14, 2017, from

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/10/why_flints_lead_pipe_replaceme.html

Masten, S. J., Davies, S. H., & McElmurry, S. P. (2016). Flint Water Crisis: What Happened and

Why?. Journal: American Water Works Association, 108(12), 22-34.

doi:10.5942/jawwa.2016.108.0195

Population estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015). (2016). Retrieved February 14, 2017, from

http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/2629000

Rosner, D. (2016). A Lead Poisoning Crisis Enters Its Second Century. Health Affairs, 35(5),

756-759. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0362

Steinberg, S. (2017, January 25). Big Sean raises $100,000 for Flint children. Retrieved February

14, 2017, from http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/01/25/big-sean-

raises-flint-children/97054780/

Winkler, M. (2016, January 5). Flint: A Failure of Government or the Cost of Bankruptcy?

Retrieved February 14, 2017, from http://www.thealternativedaily.com/flint-the-real-crisis/

Zdanowicz, C. (2016, March 7). Flint family uses 151 bottles of water per day. Retrieved

February 14, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/05/us/flint-family-number-daily-bottles-

of-water/

10 Year Whole House Water Filter | Rhino. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2017, from

http://www.aquasana.com/whole-house-water-filters/1000k-gallon-rhino/no-install