Public awareness about the dangers of lead in drinking water grew exponentially after the Flint, Mich., water crisis.
In 2016, news broke that people were getting sick, losing their hair and breaking out in rashes as a result of high concentrations of lead in Flint’s water. Criminal and civil lawsuits were filed, a slew of congressional hearings were held, and a $97-million lead service line replacement program was quickly put in place for the city.