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| Flint's contaminated water was among the most expensive in the country Flint's contaminated water was among the most expensive in the country | |
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| Despite having to deal with the effects of lead-contaminated water for nearly two years, Flint residents paid the highest water bills in the US, according to a study released Tuesday. | Despite having to deal with the effects of lead-contaminated water for nearly two years, Flint residents paid the highest water bills in the US, according to a study released Tuesday. |
| The study, conducted by Washington DC-based public interest group Food & Water Watch, reviewed 500 of the nation’s largest community water systems and found Flint residents paid $864 annually for water service – roughly double the US average. | The study, conducted by Washington DC-based public interest group Food & Water Watch, reviewed 500 of the nation’s largest community water systems and found Flint residents paid $864 annually for water service – roughly double the US average. |
| Flint’s water became contaminated in April 2014 after the city, operated at the time by a governor-appointed emergency manager, switched its drinking water source to a corrosive local river. The city wasn’t required by Michigan’s environmental department to use anti-corrosion agents to treat the water, which allowed lead to leach from pipes and flow into households. | Flint’s water became contaminated in April 2014 after the city, operated at the time by a governor-appointed emergency manager, switched its drinking water source to a corrosive local river. The city wasn’t required by Michigan’s environmental department to use anti-corrosion agents to treat the water, which allowed lead to leach from pipes and flow into households. |
| The water bill rates cited in the study were calculated as of January 2015, and assume 60,000 gallons are consumed by each household per year. Flint residents have also criticized efforts to collect payment on their water bills, even as the lead-contamination problem continues to unravel. In August, a local judge ordered Flint to reduce its rates by 35% and end a service fee, but some Flint residents say they still have to pay exorbitant bills. | The water bill rates cited in the study were calculated as of January 2015, and assume 60,000 gallons are consumed by each household per year. Flint residents have also criticized efforts to collect payment on their water bills, even as the lead-contamination problem continues to unravel. In August, a local judge ordered Flint to reduce its rates by 35% and end a service fee, but some Flint residents say they still have to pay exorbitant bills. |
| Food & Water Watch’s executive director, Wenonah Hauter, took aim at Michigan’s emergency manager law, which has been heavily criticized in wake of the Flint water crisis. | Food & Water Watch’s executive director, Wenonah Hauter, took aim at Michigan’s emergency manager law, which has been heavily criticized in wake of the Flint water crisis. |
| “From emergency management in Michigan to failed privatization experiments across the country, corporate influence has failed US water systems,” Hauter said in a statement. | “From emergency management in Michigan to failed privatization experiments across the country, corporate influence has failed US water systems,” Hauter said in a statement. |
| The study found that Flint paid substantially higher water bills than other municipalities in metro Detroit. According to the findings, Detroit residents pay $250 annually, Ann Arbor users pay $239, while Dearborn residents pay $251. It also found that across the country, privately owned water systems charge higher rates than publicly owned counterparts. | The study found that Flint paid substantially higher water bills than other municipalities in metro Detroit. According to the findings, Detroit residents pay $250 annually, Ann Arbor users pay $239, while Dearborn residents pay $251. It also found that across the country, privately owned water systems charge higher rates than publicly owned counterparts. |
| On Wednesday, a Michigan house panel approved $30m to Flint’s water department to be credited on residents’ bills. But the appropriation would only provide for residents to receive a credit for 65% of their bill dating back to April 2014, when the water source switch was made. | On Wednesday, a Michigan house panel approved $30m to Flint’s water department to be credited on residents’ bills. But the appropriation would only provide for residents to receive a credit for 65% of their bill dating back to April 2014, when the water source switch was made. |
| A Flint-based lawyer who filed a $150m lawsuit this month, seeking full water bill refunds for residents, said there are “consequential damages” for being provided unusable water. | A Flint-based lawyer who filed a $150m lawsuit this month, seeking full water bill refunds for residents, said there are “consequential damages” for being provided unusable water. |
| “The people of the city of Flint don’t need protracted litigation,” said attorney Valdemar Washington. “In my view, they need something sooner as opposed to later … in my view, what you need is something that says, ‘OK this is what we’re going to do about this, and this is the time table.” | “The people of the city of Flint don’t need protracted litigation,” said attorney Valdemar Washington. “In my view, they need something sooner as opposed to later … in my view, what you need is something that says, ‘OK this is what we’re going to do about this, and this is the time table.” |
| Washington filed the suit – one of nearly a dozen in relation to the water crisis – along with attorneys from the Baltimore-based law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, which obtained a $6.4m settlement in September for the family of Freddie Gray. The potential class-action lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages for the “complete impairment of the class’s right to contract for safe and potable water.” | Washington filed the suit – one of nearly a dozen in relation to the water crisis – along with attorneys from the Baltimore-based law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, which obtained a $6.4m settlement in September for the family of Freddie Gray. The potential class-action lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages for the “complete impairment of the class’s right to contract for safe and potable water.” |
| “[T]he city, the state, the local government officials, the governor all know that this was catastrophically wrong,” attorney William “Billy” Murphy Jr said earlier this month, “and that the citizens should not be made to add insult to injury by having to pay for dangerous, dirty, non-drinkable, non-usable water.” | “[T]he city, the state, the local government officials, the governor all know that this was catastrophically wrong,” attorney William “Billy” Murphy Jr said earlier this month, “and that the citizens should not be made to add insult to injury by having to pay for dangerous, dirty, non-drinkable, non-usable water.” |