The 2014 water crisis that began when a city switched its water source to a corrosive river, leading to lead contamination and a Legionnaires' disease outbreak, occurred in which city?

• A. Detroit, Michigan
• B. Cleveland, Ohio
• C. Flint, Michigan
• D. Chicago, Illinois

Answer: (C)

When a city changes its water source, if corrosion control isn’t properly managed, lead can leach from old pipes into the tap water. That exposure can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, contribute to outbreaks linked to the water system, such as Legionnaires’ disease. The crisis described occurred in Flint, Michigan, where switching to the Flint River in 2014 led to highly corrosive water, inadequate corrosion treatment, and widespread lead contamination. A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak was also associated with the same water system during that period. The other cities listed did not experience this particular sequence of events in 2014.