I think this element must induce rage and despair among Flint residents.

The fact that DEQ tried to play it cool by manipulating samples clearly shows that people are being negligent and have no idea how much damage they are creating because they aren't going through it

At least ask some questions about whether or not the water is clean enough for human consumption

This is terrifying to me because it shows that the government is willing to cut corners and make criminal mistakes in order to save money.

These are issues that the federal government and schools like to focus on and decrease, so if lead affects people in this way, the government should pay higher attention than it does to ensure the young generation grow up in a healthy environment with decreasing danger.

Almost stating money is more significant than a human life.

Theses are state emergency managers, shouldn't they be concerned about health risks?

Then why did they not do something about it? Or make a slower transition as they are the ones who made the new plan? This is very frustrating.

Maybe the pipes are still corroding due to left over chemicals from the River water? Also in the line above it says the city switched back to Detroit water, that's only after a couple of months, could they not have stuck with that water source in the beginning? Did they really save that much money?

I really wonder if there was no other temporary city they could buy water from until construction was done or maybe work out a deal with a different city?

Among the poor people, some homeless others not, there is always a struggle for basic needs like shelter and food. Sometimes people must turn to getting water out of rivers or sinks of a homeless shelter. If pipes are eroding and getting lead into them in such a vital place for those at risk, it can be dangerous. Along with fixing the water supply, Flint might need to take a look at their demographics of how many need public places like that with water in order to ensure at least that resource.

I am glad that these issues are being addressed on a presidential level. What can we do to make sure that water is always discussed?

Before this crisis happened, the government should have been proactive and fixed their lead pipes.

While Flint is a major crisis that is happening, it is important to realize that it has not been the first place to have contaminated water and most likely will not be the last.

I would have thought that this fact would be an incentive for the government to clean up the water supply and prevent their city from drinking unsafe water.

At that point, did they know about the water contamination?

It is saddening that the government only tried to protect themselves instead of the entire community. When they initially noticed a problem they "got bottled water for [their] employees," but said nothing to the rest of the city, allowing them to suffer and drink polluted water.

Despite several indications that there was a problem, the government continued to be ignorant. What can we do to change the way things are? How can we prevent similar situations from happening in the future?

The fact that the city knew that the water contaminated and dangerous but still let its citizens drink it is appalling. If Flint's government ignored the problem, what is stopping other cities' governments to do the same?

If the government had been proactive and tested Flint's water supply before its citizens drank the contaminated water then this whole issue could have been resolved. I hope that this raises awareness around the world and cities start to protect their water supplies more carefully.

It is devastating that so many children were exposed to toxins that "will have lifelong effects on their brain and nervous systems." We should try to minimize the consequences of contamination so that everyone can stay healthy and safe.

It is shocking how politicians seem to ignore the problem even though they are the ones that can fix it. Even though this crisis happened in Flint, I would think that presidential election coming up environmental issues such as water contamination would be brought up. How do you think we can encourage politicians to take action?

I think that it is important to realize that what happened to Flint is not a unique situation. Polluted water is a major problem around the world. If we focus on the issue now, we can come up with solutions to prevent future contaminated water sources.

It is scary that our actions today will affect the way the world works in the future. I think that this fact should make everyone more conscious of how they are affecting the environment.

If the department was willing to downplay these complaints, I wonder how they treated other issues? This really makes me feel uneasy knowing how much people are willing to prolong and hide issues instead of protecting there residents.

I think these two paragraphs were very shocking. I never thought about it in that way. The flint crisis sets itself apart from other lead poisoning because it could have been avoided. I think that just makes this crisis more horrendous than it already is – the fact that it didn't have to happen.

This makes me think about the water that I drink. It creates this cynicism, my disbelief in our cities to treat water properly and the sate to test it thoroughly. The effects of it are clearly threatening, especially when here when the levels of lead is doubled after the switch was made.

I find this very disturbing as this crisis is not temporary, it will last a lifetime and children are highly affected. Even if the problem is solved, the effects will never go away. I also find this hard to believe. Is there really no cure to the lead poisoning in children?

Here, we see the lead contamination of the water affecting education, which is not okay!

Strong pathos here. I feel her pain. :(

It is so sad that these officials are resigning in the face of danger and in the middle of a problem. Shouldn't they try to fix the crisis?

There were so many people that are to blame for this problem, and I understand that it is important for them to acknowledge their mistakes. However, the main focus right now should definitely be how to fix the crisis instead of placing blame on the public officials who slipped.

...and their water is still not the best quality! This is saddening.

This shows that in order to prevent issues from happening, problems must be detected early. Because the state did not test water before they used it, their citizens faced the terrible consequences.

I like that the bottle packaging looks kid-friendly, and I think it is important to add little happy things to life. That being said, the Star Wars design was a cute idea!

Like said in the Flint water crisis introduction video, this crisis is not only environmental. It also raises social (specifically racial) and economic issues. It is absurd and completely unfair that the quality of life of a person can be determined by the color of their skin. Is anyone else totally angered by this as well?

If this social and environmental crisis can happen in one city, why should any other historically poor city think that they might be safe from lead poisoning of their water? This issue raises fear not only within the community of Flint, Michigan, but also throughout the country.

It is relieving that people with wealth see the Flint water crisis as a problem. Celebrities are especially important to raise awareness to, because in addition to donating money, a celebrity's public life can raise more awareness about various causes.

Why would state officials want to damage their citizens and not properly approach the issue? What it a matter of public face or did they really believe that nothing was wrong? How can we prevent this from happening in the future?

This makes me wonder that if lead poisoning is such a serious issue, why didn't anyone foresee this happening? Additionally, why do we still use lead pipes if they've been proven to cause "irreversible damage to children's developing brains." Is there a better alternative?

I never knew that the Flint Crisis was a racial and economic crisis too. It's so sad that politicians have the power to create positive change, but without a media outburst or some other imposing force, they don't.

This statistic is very disheartening. I was unaware that lead contamination in water was occurring in so many areas other than Flint. The fact that 18 cities in Pennsylvania have higher rates of lead exposure in their kids' blood is extremely alarming, especially after reading about how this crisis in Flint has torn apart a community and altered the loves of children negatively.

It is extremely terrible that the children who consumed the tainted water will have to deal with the repercussions for their entire lives. It is completely unfair how these people, who should have been able to trust the leaders of their community, have fallen victim to the lack of responsibility of those in control of the water in Flint. These children will forever have difficulties understanding the world around them, and the worst part is that they did nothing to deserve it and the problem should never have occurred in the first place.

It is interesting how Flint, Michigan was already experiencing many different problems before the lead crisis. Is it possible that problems with poverty and crime lead to the state's delayed response to the water contamination?

I think it is extremely concerning that the complaints and concerns of the residents of Flint, Michigan were ignored for so long. It is tragic that we now know that the long-term health effects from the lead poisoning could have been addressed much earlier. I feel like it would be extremely hard for a community to return to its previous greatness after an issue this devastating.

Dismaying. But this also makes the controversy even more significant to study and understand. Has lead been a problem in any of your cities?

The fact that they are having problems trying to assist in the Flint crisis but have the obstacle of racism at the foot of the door is creating more conflict. The fact that Democrats have had the agenda for months speaks volumes to the issue because of how important it is to receive the treatment. Although I don't quite understand why Republicans are seemingly being criticised of something that is clearly something they don't want to address

I think it's really disturbing that some people are just not willing to help Flint in the time of their water crisis. Clearly, the children are greatly affected and adults too and they are facing a water crisis that will be hard to recover from without others' help. How are some so unwilling to give them a hand.

It's important that they are putting Flint at a high priority. The entire country is involved, including the White House and it's clear that they want to get things done immediately.

Unfortunately by delaying the passing of the bill, they are picking and choosing who they take action for. The Flint water crisis needs attention from the government immediately, but more important is the thousand of jobs that could be lost if the government shuts down.

Although the Flint water crisis will take years to solve, I don't agree with Nancy Peloski's attitude of rushing the process rather than meticulously getting it right. Hopefully they will find a plan that will work rather than just procrastinating as congress usually does or the Flint local government did originally.

The Flint Water Crisis is a horrible problem, but I doubt the shut down of the whole government is merited by it. I wonder if a separate program can be created for Flint instead of shutting down the current budget plan. How has water mismanagement started this conflict which may even halt the government.

I'm angry at this statement because it proves that government officials often times cannot be trusted. I want to know if there were any legal consequences for those responsible for covering up the extent of the flint water crisis.

It's crazy that the government was aware that the lead levels were crazy high and they still chose to lie and assert that the water was safe. Elected officials didn't care that children and residents of their city were becoming ill from their direct decisions. It's just upsetting to think about

It saddens me that residents have little to no faith in the government that they elected. I think that because America is a democracy and the people can elect who they want to be in charge, officials should took their responsibilities seriously and try to change things for the better.

Forms disliked by the people, as seen time and time again in history, cause a huge upset with people getting injured and the government overthrown. That might be a little dramatic for this case, but shows how quickly people can rise up and fight for an issue.

I like how he emphasized and publicized that everyone was being affected, no matter the race or socioeconomic status. This can cause many to identify with each other and strangers about the crisis and build a bigger network of support.

I admire his persistence for the health of the public and their safety. This is usually a quality looked for in city or state officials, that someone will put their all into ensuring the people they will get what they want.

Here is a great example of the youth rising up to raise attention in their city and also get news to the media. Media now a days can be a powerful source to get support for your cause and to alert higher officials.

I am shocked that the government did not take action when they were notified that the water was slightly orange, a color which signifies impure water.

This goes to show the extent of Edward's dedication for a cause he strongly believes in. I admire his persistence and hope that he receives more recognition for his valiant efforts.

I am happy and excited to see that there are people who advocate for change; however, it is shocking to see that a trusted organization would dishonest. I wonder what would have happened if Edwards had not gotten the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to admit that they were not being honest?

From the beginning, there is a communal tone which signifies that the community of Flint is going through these hardships together.

What we need the most is universal testing for water, as we already all have the same standards. Edwards is taking a step further by making testing available, but like how the privatization of water is negative for its environment, testing equipment should always be available for those in need.

Again, government's purpose is to represent the people, so again the betrayal of the people of Flint is disturbing, because I wonder if there are other cities who's leadership would cover a water issue as well.

Edwards' intervention really brought this issue to the main stream, but if state and local officials are oblivious to orange tinted water being hurtful to the cities residence. A purge of the authorities should be in order, as they seem to be lazy and not actually focused on their communities problems.

Finding someone the community trusts to find a long term solution to this issue is essential if the government wants to improve relations with the town's residence. Great PR move, and an even better regulatory decision in order to fix the water crisis.

I think it's comforting to know that he will continue to help the crisis and that he is fully aware of the patience that it requires to solve the problem.

I think we can say that Edwards was really the superhero here. He brought all his knowledge to the table and more importantly, he got people's attention.

This is a very influential and healthy mindset, as it provides hope and motivation to make the world a better place. Implementing a growth mindset in the toughest of times is very important.

Anyone can be a change maker, and I think this is an important lesson to teach kids from a very young age.

This raises the issue of distrust in our government. The worst form of government is a form that is disliked by the people, and this water crisis has definitely created some mistrust in our federal government.

Social media and website creation seem to be the most effective way to share information these days instead of publicizing information through newspapers or any tangible reading.

Teens coming together to protest shows that youth have a voice and a substantial affect on community and government.

This starts off the article strongly, signifying that throughout the good and bad, the community of Flint will go through everything together. We truly feel a sense of community in this introduction.

I love the idea of forcing people to deal with detriment issues in order to create positive change. It sounds a little aggressive, but I think that aggression is sometimes needed in dire situations.

This is so inspiring. That one person can stand up to huge government agencies to create positive change.

He has made such a sacrifice for such a heroic cause. I'm so happy this article is giving him the recognition he deserves.

Edwards' motivation is very inspiring. His mindset seems to be fairly simple, as he says that he cannot just live in a world where little children are knowingly being poisoned. His work makes me wish that I could always give my full support and energy to issues in order to create such impactful and beneficial change.

The extents to which people will go to make big problems seem insignificant are mind-blowing. I do not understand how high ranking officials can knowingly ignore abnormal lead levels that are affecting the health of our nations citizens. Are the leaders, like this EPA official, receiving any consequences for their actions?

I feel as if they are trying to delay their efforts to help a community in which saw the problem and spoke about it. How do authorities face confusion and disagreement on trying to help a community of people who are being found ill because of the water-supply that is being provided to them?

The acknowledgement of doing a bad thing is seen. Although the efforts to learn from these events would mean they have to explain what happened which they can't do so.

I think that the Flint crisis should be a learning experience for other governments. It should be a wakeup call for all officials to make sure that everything is running safely and smoothly where they live and to maintain the current system if it is working well.

I agree with this sentence and I wonder what we can do to help prevent crisis's like this from happening in the future.

This is a question I had, what about the water companies and who sent the water out? After the research of watersheds, the water that was sent out was treated but there was nothing about a check at the place the water went to. Shouldn't there have been some conversation with water companies and if there was why wasn't that valued and heard?

The dismissive acts of the city government after seeing data from doctors and complaints makes me wonder about the racial piece yet again. Are people now a days still so blinded by race that public health slips by?

In a local issue for money, the city government should try to work it out before looking to higher powers because they know the city best. They understand how the city functions, bringing in an outside source who will just look at numbers, not basing it off of the people, will cause controversy.

I keep seeing the profit piece popping up, and the whole starting point of the crisis was because the city was going broke. Where is the cities financials after using the Flint River water, that was suppose to save money?

I am still wondering about the racial piece in this crisis and the recent news about white authority figures and African American citizens. How has life working in Flint, Michigan affected the mindset of people working in government positions?

Action like this only in March, after months of the crisis? Also, I wonder the range of people that were interviewed for this and if it got an accurate representation of the people of Flint Michigan.

It seems like it's becoming a common issue – economic distress. We see it here that it prevented the Karegnondi Water Authority of its water supply and we see it in Flint's case where the economy was declining.

I like the positivity of this. In the midst of all the negativity and the problems of the crisis, good things were proven. The citizens came together and challenged to government to carry out their responsibilities.

If this has happened before, that means that the state government officials in Michigan were probably reluctant to be very conscientious of the corrosion, as it had not been a problem before.

Many citizens and various people in the community in Flint stepped up to take leadership roles or provide each other with moral support, which is comforting.

These are very good points, and I am wondering if this is the order of how much the crisis affected. For instance, is the economic future more affected from this incident than the residents' trust in government?

There is definitely a lot of negative and the crisis is very depressing, but I feel that some positive things came out of this. For example, many citizens learned how to cope in a traumatizing, harsh environment. Also, the state government learned that inspection of water at an early point in time is crucial to catch any problems.

It's so upsetting to see that companies would rather let people get lead poisoning than effectively inform them of the dangers of lead poisoning. Who is really responsible for clean water? The government or individuals?

Shouldn't there be someone who noticed that this act was violated? How did the Flint Crisis get so far to where it is today?

I think this part is so interesting. The Flint Water Crisis was preventable disaster, yet there was some good found in midst of all the bad.

It is worrisome how national organizations responded improperly to the crisis in Flint. These bigger agencies should have been able to come to the rescue and begin to supply clean drinking water to this city, but instead the EPA only made things worse. People should be able to trust the national protection agencies put in place to support and maintain our country. It is sad to read that people had to fight with groups, such as the EPA, just to receive a clean natural resource that they thought they had been denied.

I think that this community should be proud of how they fought to have their concerns heard. It was almost impossible for the people of Flint to get their frustrations and worries addressed seriously, but certain community members never stopped fighting. These people should be proud of the fact that they have helped to save countless children who would be suffering the effects of lead poisoning without any cure.

I am curious as to why emergency managers were put into power in the first place. Was there a problem with the previous decision that involved public decision-making? What could the emergency managers have done to avoid the Flint water crisis?