The “Flint Michigan Case” and Its Significance for the Environmental Legal Doctrine and Legislation of the USA and Russia

Abstract

The article proves that violations of the human right to drinking water that is safe for health occur not only in countries of the “Third World” but also in economically prosperous countries, including the USA, which is clearly shown by the case of Flint, Michigan. The purpose of the study is to prove that this problem is complex and should be addressed in the context of a number of economic, political and social factors. Such research methods as comparative legal analysis, synthesis, analysis, formal-logical and other methods of scientific research have been employed within the study conducted. The article presents the results of a review of the quality of drinking water supply in the city of flint, which showed that the best way to prevent such environmental crises is to address the issues of poverty, which causes drug addiction, unemployment, and a high level of violent crime caused by the economic downturn in the corresponding area (region). The authors prove that similar problems exist in Russia, where a number of small depressive cities and villages have similar problems. The final conclusion of the authors is that both in Russia and in the United States, providing the population with quality drinking water is impossible outside the context of solving economic and social issues, and one of the tools that allow us to get closer to solving these problems is the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) proposed in 2015 by the United Nations.