ASCE "Flint Michigan Water Crisis"

ASCE "Flint Michigan Water Crisis".
Christine Devine, Virginia Tech.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 - 5:30pm.
Registration, Networking, Appetizers & Poster Display: 5:30-6:30pm.
Program: 6:30 - 7:30pm.
Gross Hall, Room 107 and Atrium.

Description of Presentation:
In April of 2014, the city of Flint, MI switched from purchasing water from Detroit, MI to treating the Flint River water for potable water. Flint residents immediately noticed issues with their water; however, they were repeatedly told by government officials that their water was safe to drink. Flint resident LeeAnne Walters, contacted Dr. Marc Edwards and his team at Virginia Tech in late July 2015. The Flint Water Study Team was officially launched in August 2015. Since its launch, the Virginia Tech team has made several trips to Flint to meet with local residents, collect water samples and learn more about the issue. Lab tests were also performed at the team's labs in Blacksburg Va. This presentation will provide an overview of the Virginia Tech Flint Water Study team's efforts combining ethics engineering, citizen science, laboratory experiments, investigative science, and social media to confirm the high lead levels in Flint's water. All results have been posted to: http://flintwaterstudy.org/