By now almost everyone is aware about lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, MI that lead to a massive public health crisis and prompted President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency there.

The problem began when the city switched its water supply in 2014 from Detroit city water to water from the Flint River. Almost immediately, residents of Flint started complaining about the quality of the water. City and state officials denied for months that there was a serious problem. The GM plant in Flint quickly switched back to Detroit city water because the Flint river water was corroding car parts.

Due to the fact that anti-corrosion additive was not used supply pipes sustained major corrosion and lead was leaching into the water. The city switched back to its original water supply, but it was too late to reverse the damage to the pipes.

On the news we heard about High lead levels found in the blood of children.  This can cause are  “learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation,” but what went on behind the News stories? What made the City and the Governors office go from stating over and over again “The Water Meets EPA STANDARDS, it is safe to drink” to declaring a state of emergency and spending millions of dollars to switch back to Detroit water?  What happened on the ground is a story you must read. I thought I knew a lot about the Flint crisis, there was a lot more I didn’t know and it is an amazing story to read.  It will inform you on much more than Flint.  This book looks at the relationship between recent water problems and new EPA rules that seem to be happening everywhere.  She also explains the complicated relationship between the EPA, state government and municipal government that can sometimes work together, only to  to fail.  How in Flints case doing the right thing took a back seat to protecting jobs and political careers.

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The unfolding crisis in Flint is captured in Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s new book, “What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City”. Here is an excerpt from her book published by CBS News:  https://cbsn.ws/2JU6a3U

You can see the CBS Sunday Morning Cover Story interview here: https://youtu.be/pd2qxi2mF_4