Final answer:
The problem with chlorine in water from the Flint River is that it can react with corrosive elements, leading to increased corrosion and elevated levels of lead in the water. Treatment plants need to carefully manage chlorine use to balance disinfection and corrosion control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem with chlorine in water from the Flint River is that the river water is corrosive, and chlorine can react with the corrosive elements present in the water, causing increased corrosion of the aging water system in Flint. This increased corrosion leads to the leaching of lead from the lead pipes, resulting in elevated levels of lead in the water. Lead is highly toxic, particularly to children, and can cause serious health problems.
This is a problem for treatment plants because the use of chlorine in the treatment process can exacerbate the corrosion issue. Chlorine is commonly added to water to kill bacteria and other harmful organisms, but it can react with the corrosive elements in the water and accelerate the corrosion process. Treatment plants need to carefully manage the amount of chlorine added to ensure it effectively disinfects the water without causing further corrosion.