Lead bottom and water

[tw]

Originally Posted by Beestie

Intake water for a lot of municipalities is corrosive. And polluted. And laced with discarded medication and on and on. Intake water is supposed to be treated to remove these impurities before it is delivered to the citizens. Is the argument that Flint's water treatment facility sucks so we better start with clean water where this begins?

Some of the cleanest water is available in nearby Lake Huron. Less treatment - less costs. But that means making decisions based upon the product. Cheaper is to take corrosive water from the Flint River and not treat it (as required even by Federal law). The product (and consumers) is irrelevant to business school graduates. Decisions were made only on costs and spread sheets.

If Flint River water was treated as required, then costs would increase - not decrease. That violates then entire purpose of making decisions based on money. Need we remember this same decision process killed seven Challenger astronauts?

More Michigan state administrators resigned today. Wind dummies to protect the boss - Govenor Snyder. Anyone remember Bridge Gate and Gov Christie?

Some cleanest water seen is the Delaware River above Port Jervis (above New Jersey's northernmost point). Even when water was clearly getting dirtier in the 1980s, it was still rated class A water (cleanest) by the National Park Service. During Clinton's administration, this water clearly got cleaner again.

Philadelphia does not tap the Delaware River. It is too dirty. Schuykill River is cleaner. So what happens between Port Jervis and Philadelphia to make water bad?

Treatment does not sufficiently remove many nastys such as medications, minerals (ie lead), etc. Ph levels can be adjusted to within 0.1 by required chemical treatment. In some cases (maybe also in this one), a cheaper chlorine may be used, again, to save money. That chemical can increase lead contamination.

Management did not come from where the work gets done. So decisions were made to harm Flint residents. Had they used a gun, it would have been called attempted murder. But because it was finance people, it was only called a mistake.