Distributing drinking water in Flint, Michigan, United States. Image credit: The Hill
Despite many thinking that the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, United States (U.S.), may be over, issues continue to plague the city. According to The Hill, a coalition of groups including the American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan, and the National Resources Defence Council, among others, have sued the government of Flint in the federal court, saying that the officials have not abided by the terms of the settlement concerning the city’s drinking water.
They allege that since the settlement, the officials of Flint have not provided the extensive status updates required on the progress of replacing the lead pipes, the very instruments that contributed heavily to the water crisis, alongside numerous other steps officials have also agreed to undertake. The groups added that the irregular disclosures meant that they found it difficult to find out if the city was following other terms of the settlement that had been added in order to safeguard residents from the lead exposure that led to at least 12 deaths.
“For nine months, the city has consistently violated the agreement’s disclosure provisions. The city has repeatedly provided late, incomplete, and inaccurate status reports,” The groups wrote in the filing. “And it has routinely dragged its feet in responding to plaintiffs’ basic and concrete questions about how the city keeps records on its compliance and who maintains them.”
They are requesting that Judge David Lawson, who is responsible for overseeing the case, order the city to improve on its reporting and consistency, according to The Hill.
“The City of Flint remains committed to replacing all lead and galvanised water service lines leading to homes in Flint,” Karen Weaver, Mayor of Flint, said, reaffirming her commitment to fully resolving the crisis. “It is important to note, nothing in the motion filed jeopardises, in any way, the City’s efforts or the funding commitments included in the settlement agreement for service line replacements.”
Source: The Hill
