It was just a few years ago that the city of Flint, Michigan, went through a major water crisis and now the Flint River is suffering from a new oil-based spill.

Flint Water Crisis

Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg via Getty Images
loading...

Anyone who lives in Michigan has heard about the Flint water crisis a few years back when the city was getting its water from the Flint River. The city has since switched back to getting its water supplied regionally.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
loading...

The water coming out of the tap at one time in Flint was disgusting and lead-filled. The water system has gotten a complete overhaul and things are finally getting a little better but a lot of damage has already been done to the community.

Thousands of Gallons of Oil-Based Material Has Spilled Into Flint River

The Washington Post via Getty Im
The Washington Post via Getty Im
loading...

Flint just can't catch a break when it comes to water. First, the water crisis and now thousands of gallons of an oil-based dark black material that smells of petroleum have spilled into the Flint River. The spill at this time is covering about a 5-mile area of the river.

Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images
Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images
loading...

Luckily Flint residents are no longer getting their drinking water from the Flint River, but a lot has been done to clean up the river from the previous water crisis. This new spill is definitely a setback for the river and the community.

Gallo Images via Getty Images
Gallo Images via Getty Images
loading...

WOOD-TV reported that Mayor Sheldon Neeley said state and local agencies were at the scene. The source of the spill is under investigation.

CRISTINA VEGA RITORAFP via Getty Images
CRISTINA VEGA RITORAFP via Getty Images
loading...

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is sending two coordinators to respond to the Flint River spill. They will be joining agencies from the city of Flint, Genesee County, and the state of Michigan to get to the bottom of this spill and get it cleaned up before more damage is done to the river ecosystem.

Sarah Rice/Getty Images
Sarah Rice/Getty Images
loading...

I have personally spent a lot of time in Flint and used to fish the Flint River in the exact spot bridge pictured above. I only sport fished the river. I would never eat anything that comes out of the river. I was shocked after fishing there all those years when the city decided to switch to using the water as a drinking supply. Glad that it is not used for that anymore.

Sarah Rice/Getty Images
Sarah Rice/Getty Images
loading...

From what experts are saying that the spill looks and smells to be motor oil but investigators are going to have to sort that out.

Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs In MI

A look at the highest-paying jobs in Michigan for 2021 according to data obtained by career resource website, Zippia.

UP NEXT: Can You Guess These Jobs Based On Simple Descriptions?

More From Magic 104.9