Officials acknowledged a water crisis in Flint after many children were shown to have been poisoned by tap water, after the city source was switched a year ago.
Newly-elected Mayor Karen Weaver shifted the city's water source in April 2014 from the Detroit water system to the Flint River source. Flint city emergency manager Darnell Earley, appointed by Republican Governor Rick Snyder, was responsible for the shift.
"This switch has resulted in elevated lead levels in drinking water which prompted both the City and the County Health department to issue a health advisory earlier this year," said the city mayor's office.
The mayor's office responded to public outrage by returning the city to the Detroit water system in October. Weaver cautioned residents that "lead levels remain well above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion in many homes."
The city and county continue to give the impression of vigilance in mitigating the water disaster by releasing several warnings. Many protest groups have sprung up, including, "Water You Fighting For," a community group.
Activist organizations observe that children are most affected by lead poisoning in water.
"Young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer profound and permanent adverse health effects, particularly affecting the development of the brain and nervous system," according to the World Health Organization.
