NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

It’s been more than a decade since the alarm was sounded about high levels of lead in Flint, Michigan’s tap water. This July, the city said it had completed the work of replacing as many as 11,000 lead pipes mandated by a 2017 settlement. But lead lines still remain in Flint and states across the country. Ali Rogin speaks with Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council for more.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who took over the project to replace the lead pipes after the city of Flint was held in contempt?
2. What was missed at the end of a 10 year process of getting the lead service lines out of the ground?
3. Where are some of the other regions or cities where lead in the water has been a chronic problem?
4. When were there pull backs on the standards for drinking water?
5. Why/How is lead exposure harmful for brain development?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think it has taken so many years to address the problem in Flint? If the city is not capable of addressing the problem, who do you think might be able to?
2. Do you think it's more important to focus on the immediate need or a long-term plan for the city?

Media literacy: What other perspective would you want to hear to from? What experts do you think would help you better understand why the problem has been so difficult to address?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

• Research if your city provides water-testing kits. You can learn more about how to determine lead levels in your drinking water from the Environmental Protection Agency.
• You might also research the impact of lead on human health here.

Written by Kevin Roodnauth, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern and senior at Amherst College, and News Hour's Luke Gerwe.

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