Final answer:
Microorganisms were found in Flint water due to the use of corrosive Flint River water, which compromised the water treatment process and caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the supply. This created health risks and highlighted serious issues of environmental justice and systemic inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The presence of microorganisms in Flint water was due to a series of environmental and infrastructural failures. In April 2014, Flint's water supply was switched from the Detroit municipal system to the Flint River in a cost-saving measure. The river water was highly corrosive, which caused lead to leach from the city's aging lead pipes into the drinking water. This toxic lead exposure was particularly detrimental to children and the elderly.
Furthermore, improper sanitation measures and the corrosive river water likely compromised water quality, creating an environment conducive to pathogenic bacteria, such as those causing Legionnaires' disease. The water crisis exemplifies the unequal impact environmental problems have on different segments of society, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
The lack of proper water treatment and the exposure of water to lead and other contaminants provided a breeding ground for microorganisms and highlighted issues of environmental justice and systemic racism. It resulted in health risks, such as rashes, hair loss, and elevated blood lead levels, while also raising concerns about long-term developmental and cognitive damage.