Residents of Flint, Michigan will finally get their damaged lead pipes replaced, thanks to a settlement in March 2017.
Unfortunately, it took months of complaints and investigation to lead to this resolution.
And, the problem extends far beyond Flint.
According to a 2015 study from NRDC, at least 18 million people are drinking lead-contaminated water presently or within the past four years. USA Today reported 2,000 water systems in the United States have had lead problems in the last few years. Many areas don’t have lead testing.
Children are most susceptible to permanent damage from lead consumption. Scarily, most schools were built before the early 1980s. Many of these schools have lead pipes. Having the water tested will inform risk of water toxicity. You can petition your local school board for water testing. Crowdfunding can cover the costs.
Citizens need to rally locally for water monitoring and reporting of clear results. Community-based empowerment will succeed. Find out what the water is like in your home and neighborhood, so you can limit your exposure to toxins.
Listen as Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding joins Dr. Susanne Bennett to share how you can reduce water toxicity.