Flint Residents Seek Erin Brockovich's Help With Water Crisis

Residents of Flint, MI, have reached out to famed environmentalist Erin Brockovich for assistance with what some see as a water "crisis."

"I am so honored this community would seek my help...and I am glad I could send Bob to get it done," Brockovich wrote in a recent Facebook update, referring to her associate Robert Bowcock who marched with Flint locals in a water rally on Valentine's Day.

Bowcock, founder of Integrated Resource Management, spent five years working with Brockovich, who became a legend when Julia Roberts played her on the silver screen.

Bowcock addressed residents about water concerns before the rally. Flint has faced water challenges, including high trihalomethane levels, after it stopped using Detroit's water supply in April and became responsible for its own treatment processes.

"A bottom line question for many people (is) why are we paying 100 percent more than we were a few years ago, for poorer water quality," he said, per Michigan Live. "Your attendance on this very, very cold day is important. You're demonstrating leadership to everyone in this community that this water issue is a problem that can be solved with community action."

Bowcock says Flint's water challenges can be resolved if officials change certain heavy-handed approaches to water treatment, Michigan Live reported.

His suggestions?

"Bowcock likened his initial thoughts, such as changing the type of charcoal used in water filtration, to adjusting the carburetor on a car, and said he believes the Flint River can be the source of high-quality water," the report said.

"Bowcock said that since arriving in Flint....he has looked at the distribution system and water treatment plant, and met with Flint City Council leaders. He has suggested a 'less is more' system of changes that focuses more treatment technologies for removing dirt and less on chemicals," Michigan Live reported.

Bowcock wants to see a cleaner treatment process. He explained his advice, per the report.

"Every time there's a water quality problem, they've overreacted with more chemicals. I think they need to evaluate their treatment technologies as they relate to removing the dirt," he said. "They can do that by changing out their filter media. ... By doing that, they're going to have the ability to improve the water quality so it won't cause the leeching it's causing out in the distribution system," he said.

This winter, Flint officials warned certain elderly people and families with infants that they need to talk to a doctor before they drink their tap water as a result of trihalomethanes, a disinfection byproduct. Locals labelled the problem a "crisis."

The city sent a letter indicating that people with "a severely compromised immune system, (who) have an infant or are elderly...may be at increased risk and should seek advice about drinking water from your health care provider," Sara Jerome Michigan Live.