Flint’s latest lawsuit could finally get officials to replace pipes; Coalition of advocacy groups serves federal complaint

A federal lawsuit filed today over Flint's water scandal seeks to force city and federal officials to face their alleged violations and resolve the problem by replacing the contaminated water system pipes. The coalition argues that it was the city and state officials' responsibility to treat the water for corrosion, test the water for lead contamination, and notify the public with an accurate report of the results but they failed to properly do so.

RT Question More writes that an environmental and civil rights coalition believes that the only way to properly fix the lead problem on Flint's water system is to fully replace them. Over 100,000 residents have been exposed to lead poisoning and a special prosecutor has been investigating how the city officials of Flint made it happen.

Flint was under state-appointed emergency manager in 2014 when it switched its tap water source to Flint River for a cost-cutting move. The working operators at Flint's water treatment plant have failed to follow treatment procedure to make the drinking water less corrosive. As a result older lead pipes dissolved into the tap water.

Fox News reports that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said replacement of Flint's lead pipes is not imminent. He said it's a longer-term consideration.

In his own words, the Governor said, "A lot of work is being done to even understand where the lead services lines fully are. The short-term issue is about recoating the pipes (with chemicals) and that will be based on third-party experts saying the water is safe. It's a lot of work to take out pipes, to redo all the infrastructure."

Toronto Metro News reports that currently, Flint residents are still unable to drink their unfiltered water source. Tests were also conducted on children that show high level of lead in their blood system. The extent of the damage remains unknown regarding the lead service lines. Snyder's administration said the estimated cost of the repair of the 15,000 affected pipes could reach to $55 million that's why more study should be conducted.

However, the coalition group that filed the lawsuit has expressed their doubts whether the city can uphold the optimal corrosion treatment or not. 

Tags

Flint, water system, lead contaminated, Gov. Snyder, water system pipes, corrosion, lead contamination, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder

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