The Flint MI Water Crisis: FlintWaterStudy's Journey With Flint Residents

FlintWaterStudy is a an independent research team from Virginia Tech (VT) volunteering our time, resources and expertise to help resolve scientific uncertainties associated with drinking water issues being reported in the City of Flint, MI. We got involved in August 2015, after we analyzed and found hazardous waste levels of lead coming out of the taps of Ms. LeeAnne Walters (a former resident of Flint). The people in Flint kept trying to get their elected officials to understand that the water they were told was safe to drink- to give to their children- was not safe. But the state told everyone who was worried about lead in water to “relax” and generally dismissed the concerns of the public. Observing this dangerous attitude, we knew that if we got involved, we could supply some funding, analytical support, and sound science to help the people in Flint determine if their water was safe.

What follows is the story of the people of Flint, who turned citizen scientists and aided us in our investigation. This is a story of how a professor and a group of 20 somethings in Blacksburg VA became one of the only groups that the City trusted after their trust was broken by government agencies. This is a story of despair, of scientific misconduct, of an incident that endangered public health, but it is also a story of hope, of heroes who worked tirelessly till this issue gained prominence.