EPA to Flint: “You’re on Your Own” — Because Who Needs Clean Water Anyway?

EPA to Flint: “You’re on Your Own” — Because Who Needs Clean Water Anyway?

In a move that shocked absolutely no one with a working memory, the EPA has decided that Flint, Michigan is fine now. Lee Zeldin, the EPA Administrator, proudly announced that lead levels are “acceptable,” and thus, the government will be packing up their buckets and leaving Flint to its own devices.

But wait—Flint residents, including Water Advisory Board Chair Ben Polly, are saying, “Uh, hold up, the water’s still not great.” Because guess what? Just because a little less lead is in the water doesn’t mean people trust the system that told them for years to drink what was basically liquid poison.

Here’s a quick refresher for anyone who’s been living under a (hopefully not corroded) rock:

• In 2014, Flint switched to the Flint River for drinking water. It was supposed to save money but ended up costing people their health.
  
  

• Corroded pipes leached dangerous levels of lead, while officials basically gaslit everyone into believing the brown sludge coming out of the tap was just “character.”
  
  

• People were literally drinking water with lead and fecal contamination, and their kids got sick. But don’t worry, the government told them everything was peachy!
  
  

Now, even though the numbers might look “acceptable” (if you ignore the human cost), the EPA is cutting ties with local programs like the Water Advisory Board—the very groups that helped residents fight for their right to clean water. Meanwhile, critics say residents are being painted as “anti-science” or as people who just love playing the victim.

But here’s the kicker: Flint’s water system still has major issues. Pipes don’t magically fix themselves just because some numbers say it’s “good enough.” If anything, this move signals to struggling communities everywhere: “Hey, if you don’t die immediately, you’re on your own.”

So, let’s pour one out—preferably not Flint tap water—for government accountability.