Ep 15. What Lies Upstream

What Lies Upstream is the 15th episode of the 19th season of the documentary series Independent Lens. The episode explores the Flint water crisis and its aftermath, shedding light on government and corporate failures that have endangered the health of millions of Americans.

The film follows investigative filmmaker Cullen Hoback as he uncovers the truth about the Flint water crisis, a man-made disaster that exposed thousands of Flint residents to lead and other toxic chemicals. Hoback conducts interviews with residents, activists, scientists and government officials to understand what caused the crisis, who is responsible and what can be done to prevent future disasters.

The episode shows how scientists and activists fought against government and corporate negligence to bring the Flint water crisis to national attention. Hoback interviews Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, who was instrumental in exposing the lead contamination in Flint's water supply, and pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who documented the alarming rise in lead levels in children's blood after Flint switched its water source to the corrosive Flint River in 2014.

Hoback also investigates the role of state and federal regulators in the crisis, revealing how the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality ignored warnings from its own employees and downplayed the severity of the contamination. He interviews Lee Anne Walters, a Flint resident who discovered high levels of lead in her tap water after her son began experiencing symptoms of lead poisoning.

The episode exposes the links between the Flint water crisis and broader issues of environmental justice and regulation. Hoback interviews environmental activist Erin Brockovich, who discusses how decades of lax enforcement of environmental regulations have led to a nationwide crisis of toxic drinking water.

Through interviews with Flint residents and other activists, Hoback shows how the Flint water crisis is not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of systemic failures in government and corporate regulation. He also explores the potential solutions to prevent future crises, such as greater transparency and accountability for public officials and corporations.

Overall, What Lies Upstream is a compelling and thought-provoking episode that exposes the shocking failures of government and corporate regulation that have endangered public health and safety. Through its detailed investigation of the Flint water crisis, the episode sheds light on the urgent need for reform and change in the way we regulate and protect our water resources.