The Making of a Public Health Catastrophe Case Study Solution
If you are a Public Health professional, then you are most likely aware of the Flint Water Crisis. What's more, you may have been tasked with carrying out a case study of the disaster to ensure the health and safety of the citizens of Flint. As a result, you are required to develop an initial problem statement, PESTLE analysis, and case study solution. You will also need to assess the financial situation and make recommendations for resolving the problem.
Problem Statement
The Flint water crisis is perhaps the most serious lead contamination of drinking water in the U.S. Since Congress banned lead water pipes more than 30 years ago, many older pipes remain in use, and it is costly and dangerous to dig them out.
Lead is a metal used to manufacture a wide variety of products, and it is harmful to humans. It is especially detrimental to children, who have a greater risk of mental retardation and learning disabilities.
The lead problem in Flint began when state officials decided to change the city's water source. Instead of using the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), they switched to the Flint River.
Flint's new water source did not protect the pipes from corrosion. Over time, a phosphate crust began to break down, and lead ions entered the water. Eventually, the corrosive water began to leak into residents' homes.
In October 2015, the county health department declared a local health emergency. Residents were told to boil the water. After a few months, they were urged to test their drinking water. Some samples contained lead levels as high as 13,000 parts per billion.
The Flint community received support from reporters, citizen activists, and scientists. Doctors and physicians also gave clear warnings to residents.
Federal agencies including the EPA, FEMA, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are coordinating their response efforts. They have also provided free bottled water, and are testing the water for contaminants.
Case Study Solution
The Flint water crisis, which began in 2014, was a disaster for residents of Flint, Michigan. It involved the release of lead into the city's drinking water supply. This led to the tripling of children's blood lead levels. Children who were exposed to high levels of lead are at a higher risk of behavioral problems, learning disabilities and mental retardation.
For months, Flint officials denied that the problem existed. In November 2016, a federal judge sided with the community, ordering the city to install faucet filters and replace thousands of lead pipes. A new pipeline would not be ready in time, so the city turned to the Flint River as an interim source of water.
The Flint water treatment plant had a series of shortcomings that contributed to the contamination of the city's water. These included inadequate supplies of polyelectrolyte, which is used in the chemical process of purifying water, and non-functioning head loss monitors on filters.
The MDEQ Office of Drinking Water Quality failed to apply the legal requirements for corrosion control in the distribution system. As a result, the water quality of the Flint River was highly corrosive.
When the water was tested, 17 percent of samples came up at the federal "action level" of 15 parts per billion. While this may not seem like much, it is especially harmful to children.
Porters Five Forces
The Porter Five Forces model is a business strategy tool that outlines five basic forces that determine the competitiveness of an industry. Using this analysis, companies can learn about their competition, profitability, and strategic opportunities. It is especially useful when evaluating new industries, and can be applied to any sector of the economy.
The model was created by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter in the late 1970s. He believed the traditional approach to strategy creation was outdated. Instead, he developed a framework that outlined the competitive forces in the industry and provided a map to analyze them.
Porter's model estimates the competition intensity of an industry, the number of competitors, and their ability to undercut a company. It also calculates the bargaining power of consumers, suppliers, and new entrants.
As competition becomes intense, it's becoming more difficult for companies to achieve profitable growth. New entrants often bring disruption, and can reduce profits for the existing players. In addition, the presence of substitute products can deprive a company of sales.
Developing a corporate strategy is a process that continues throughout a firm's life. A company will want to set its objectives, try to inspire its employees, and determine its overall worth. These goals will be customized to the changing circumstances of the industry.
While the Porter Five Forces model is a great tool to use when analyzing an industry, it's important to understand that the model may not be as accurate in today's world. However, it still plays a crucial role in corporate planning.
PESTLE Analysis
The Flint, Michigan water crisis is an event that has drawn national attention. As the city attempts to get back on its feet after a financial swoon, it's important to know why it happened, what it means and how it could affect your community.
Flint was a cash strapped municipality in 2011, when it decided to ditch its Great Lakes' Lake Huron source and rely on the unofficial Flint River for drinking water. It was a cheaper option than a more expensive pumping system, but in the process, it bypassed standard safety precautions to save money.
The decision to switch water sources was a bad one. Earlier this year, an independent test found that lead levels in the Flint River were above the federal "action level" of 15 parts per billion.
While the city's chlorine fix supposedly made it safe to drink, it did nothing to address other problems such as corrosion. In addition, it may have only enhanced the problem.
One of the most revealing aspects of the Flint water crisis is that it has forced the government to acknowledge its failures. Governor Rick Snyder acknowledged that the water in his state was a catastrophe, and that it was "his Katrina."
The Flint water system is no longer a model of efficiency. The city is in the process of replacing thousands of lead service lines, but it remains to be seen whether the replacements are well managed.
Financial Analysis
The Flint water crisis was a public health catastrophe that occurred in the heart of a Midwestern city. As a result of Flint's decision to switch to the Flint River as its main source of drinking water, the city experienced a number of problems.
First, a water treatment plant that was once a national leader in the field was shuttered. Since then, the city's water supply has been contaminated with lead, carcinogenic trihalomethanes, and other heavy metals.
This contaminated water caused the highest levels of lead exposure ever recorded in the United States. As a result, children in the city developed lead poisoning.
In addition to lead, the Flint water system also was not properly treated with chlorine and other safe, protective measures. This led to a doubling of blood lead levels in children.
By the time the water crisis came to light, the city of Flint was experiencing a $25 million deficit. To address this shortfall, the state of Michigan put the city under emergency management.
During the two years the city was under emergency management, a series of officials were appointed to manage the situation. While these officials were unable to save the city's finances, they were able to set a local policy. They were tasked with developing a plan to fix the city's water supply.
Despite these efforts, the Flint water crisis proved to be a far bigger issue than anticipated. This was exacerbated by the institutional responses to the problem.
Recommendations
The Flint water crisis in Michigan has been a public health catastrophe. It has revealed a series of administrative failures and conflicts of interest that led to lead seepage into the city's drinking water. A number of governmental leaders have been charged with crimes related to the crisis.
After switching its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River, the city suffered from a variety of problems, including an outbreak of fecal coliform bacteria. As a result, water in Flint was unsafe to drink, leading to elevated blood lead levels among children.
Residents began voicing their concerns over the safety of the water. Doctors and other physicians issued a series of clear warnings, urging residents not to drink the city's water. While officials claimed the water was safe, a study by Virginia Tech researchers found that the city's lead levels had spiked.
Flint's aging pipes had already sustained extensive corrosion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead exposure. In addition, high blood lead levels can impair a child's learning abilities and cause behavioral problems.
Eventually, the community forced the government to respond. Governor Rick Snyder appointed an emergency manager to oversee the city's water supply. However, the emergency manager rejected the Detroit Water and Sewerage District's offer to re-connect Flint to its water system.
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