Final answer:
The Flint water crisis was primarily attributed to lack of government oversight, which led to a switch in water supply, resulting in lead poisoning due to corrosion of pipes. This disproportionately affected low-income and African-American communities in Flint, Michigan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popular theory behind the Flint tragedy is related to lack of government oversight, a search for a cheaper source of drinking water, and mistakes made by Flint's water management team. In 2014, emergency financial managers switched the city's water supply from Detroit's municipal water to the Flint River to save money. The river's corrosive water led to the leaching of lead from old pipes, poisoning the water supply and exposing residents to high levels of lead poisoning and other contaminants. This decision and the insufficient treatment of the water affected many, especially in poorer, African-American communities. Flint's crisis highlights the intersection of environmental health, systemic racism, and socioeconomic equity.