University of Michigan researchers say they have the first direct evidence that the Flint water contamination was caused by lead leached into the system because the water was not properly treated.
The U of M study of lead service lines in Flint showed that the crust that lined the pipes had a swiss-cheese pattern of holes where lead was displaced. A state regulator said earlier this year that corrosion controls would not have prevented the water emergency. The study contradicts that claim. Researchers say the findings underscore the importance of uninterrupted anti-corrosion treatment for aging water systems.