Snyder's emails reveal state officials' skepticism of lead fears and slow response in Flint crisis

Yesterday, in a move for transparency, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder released emails from his office in relation to the Flint lead crisis. The emails, though redacted in some places and not generally containing content that is not already public information, do detail how the response at the state level failed the people of Flint. The full document is here, but here are some highlights in chronological order.

October 1, 2014: Briefing from MDEQ on Boil Water Advisories given in the wake of bacterial and fecal contamination. This was after three coliform bacteria violations in the Flint River.

The city has also experienced decades of a declining user base and water use associated with vacant homes, commercial businesses, and industrial property. Declining water use leads to excess residence time within the city's distribution pipes and water storage facilities, accelerating tuberculation, biofilm growth, and disinfectant residual degradation. While the city has recently seen an infusion of funding for blight removal, contractors completing this work have been improperly using fire hydrants, causing hydraulic disturbances that dislodged and suspended settled debris, which may have contributed to the bacterial contamination. 

April 25, 2014: Release from City of Flint detailing decision to switch to Flint River as a temporary source. Includes several strong endorsements of the quality of the river’s drinking water, including one from the Flint River Watershed Coalition claiming it is “completely suitable as a drinking water source.”