NEW YORK (Sputnik) — In June 2014, the city of Detroit, Michigan began shutting off water to thousands of residences with delinquent accounts, spurring nationwide protests. In September 2015, a study determined the water supply in neighboring Flint contained unsafe levels of lead. Officials reportedly knew about the contamination for two years, but never disclosed any information publicly.
"With Detroit and Flint being the first in the United States for this type of crisis,… I was sounding the alarm," Walker said on Tuesday.
Walker called the water crisis in Michigan "an educational moment" for leaders across the world so as to learn from it and ensure "this doesn’t happen to them."
Earlier on Tuesday, Walker addressed the UN Commission for Social Development’s annual meeting in New York, where she explained that Michigan-like water crisis can easily occur in other countries.
She explained the world should not view the affected cities of Detroit and Flint in Michigan and say "that’s just their problem."
"It can be your problem," Walker added.
In October 2014, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation Catarina de Albuquerque visited Detroit and talked to residents whose water had been shut off or who were struggling to pay their water bills. In 2015 alone, the city reportedly saw nearly 3,000 shutoffs per month.
