According to NPR, the crisis began when the state government switched from their previous water system, in which they bought treated water from Detroit, to a new system, taking water from the Flint River in order to save money. However, because the City of Flint rushed to complete the project, they did not properly treat the water. Typical water treatment includes the addition of chemicals like phosphoric acid to the water, in order to prevent corrosion in the pipes and dangerous metals from getting in. Because Flint failed to add this, lead from the pipes leached into the water which citizens used. Many people became sick or more susceptible to illness after using the lead-filled water. No amount of lead in water is safe, and the amount in Flint’s water was noticeably above FDA levels.