Instead of drawing from the region’s lakes, one of the world’s largest freshwater reserves, officials decided to draw from a polluted, acidic river, exposing its 100,000-strong population to severely lead-contaminated water for more than a year.

The health scandal had international repercussions, and—among other issues—caused learning disabilities in many children.

It saw a spike in cases of Legionnaires’ disease, leading to the death of a dozen people and widespread mistrust of public officials.

Those same authorities have said that the vast majority of lead pipes have since been replaced and that the water is now safe to drink.

  • @mojofrododojo
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    45 days ago

    that this is still ongoing is a national shame.