"Numerous cities face financial problems similar to the ones that led to the Flint, Mich., drinking water crisis, a government watchdog report found.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) scoured census data and found that about 15 percent of the country’s mid-size and large cities have lost population in the last three decades.

For many of the cities, that has led to high rates of poverty and economic distress, reducing revenues and necessitating higher water rates to fund infrastructure, similar to what happened in Flint in the lead-up to its lead contamination crisis, the GAO said.

The utilities also face problems with keeping rates affordable, especially when cities are so economically distressed and unemployment is high."

Timothy Cama reports for The Hill October 17, 2016. [2]