This Petition Wants to Avoid a Flint Disaster in Los Angeles

9:10 AM PST on February 23, 2016

The water crisis at Flint, Michigan continues to shock (and in some cases, enrage) citizens across the country. Now, a petition wants to avoid the same situation from happening in Los Angeles.

The Change.org petition entitled "Help Stop Another Flint Disaster" has garnered more than 30,000 signatures. According to the petition, "Los Angeles has switched to the same cheap disinfectant, chloramine, which is believed to have compounded Flint’s water crisis." The petition calls on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to switch back to chlorine "until better alternatives, can be implemented."

However, an article from Curbed LA (dating back to 2012) paints a different picture. According to the post, chloramine actually serves as a better alternative to chlorine.

According to the CDC, small amounts of chlorine shouldn't cause any health issues. When it comes to chloramine, the levels in water should remain at around 50 mg/L.

Meanwhile, the situation at Flint continues to escalate. According to CNN, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently urged both state and city to put their best efforts forward in meeting an official order created last month. Among other concerns, the letter states that "the City has not yet demonstrated it has an adequate number of qualified personnel to perform the duties and obligations required to ensure the City's public water system complies with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs), including the LCR."

The main problem in the crisis lies in the decision to switch from water supply in Detroit to Flint River. Obviously, Angelenos want to avoid a similar situation from happening so that these concerns don't end up being an issue for Los Angeles. But the factors are different in the City of Angels. And the CDC's statements don't make it entirely clear which substance proves more damaging than the other.

So far the petition has gained 34,455 supporters out of a goal of 35,000.

Eva Recinos @eva_recinos

Eva Recinos is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. She is less than five feet tall.

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