FLINT, MI -A new federal lawsuit is seeking the replacement of all lead service lines in Flint at no cost to residents following claims city and state leaders violated federal laws designed to protect drinking water.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, Jan. 27, in Detroit U.S. District Court is asking a federal judge to force city and state officials to provide safe drinking water to Flint residents and require them to follow federal regulations for testing and treating water to control for lead.
The claim was filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the ACLU of Michigan, Concerned Pastors for Social Action and Flint resident Melissa Mays.
"Everyone in this country deserves and expects safe drinking water, regardless of your race, economic status or zip code," Pastor Allen Overton of Concerned Pastors for Social Action said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. "The residents of Flint were stripped of their democratically elected authority and, in the name of saving a few dollars, have been forced to sacrifice their health in the process. This community deserves accountability, transparency, and justice, in addition to water that is safe to drink."
The lawsuit names the city of Flint and the state officials who oversaw the city as part of the government receivership.
Gov. Rick Snyder's office declined to comment on the allegations.
"It would be inappropriate to discuss pending litigation," said Snyder's Press Secretary Dave Murray. "The governor's $28 million supplemental budget request includes funding dedicated to infrastructure, and (the) governor expects to have additional resources in the budget recommendation in the coming weeks."
The city is currently in the national spotlight after elevated blood levels were discovered in some Flint children after the city changed its water source from Lake Huron water purchased from the Detroit water system to the Flint River in April 2014, a decision made while the city was being run by a state-appointed emergency manager.
State regulators never required that the river water be treated to make it less corrosive, causing lead from plumbing and pipes to leach into the water supply.
Even though the city reconnected to the Detroit water system in October, local officials have advised Flint resident not to drink city water unless they are using a lead-clearing filter.
The Synder administration requested a supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year that would use $22 million in state money plus some federal money to direct $28 million to address immediate in Flint. It allocates state funding to six department and would enable the state to increase National Guard efforts, increase nurses in schools and replace fixtures in some public places.
More than $17 million of the funding would go to provide emergency bottled water, filters, blood testing and other services. The bill also includes $5 million to aid the city in the loss of revenue from unpaid water bills and new water system infrastructure.
The lawsuit is not seeking monetary damages, but the plaintiffs say they are seeking relief to remedy the health and medical harms Flint residents have suffered.
"Everyone in this country deserves and expects safe drinking water, regardless of your race, economic status or zip code," said Pastor Allen Overton of Concerned Pastors for Social Action. "The residents of Flint were stripped of their democratically elected authority and, in the name of saving a few dollars, have been forced to sacrifice their health in the process. This community deserves accountability, transparency, and justice, in addition to water that is safe to drink."
Multiple other state and federal lawsuits have been filed previously over the city's water crisis.