Flint families file lawsuit against Michigan governor over lead-tainted drinking water

Seven families in the US city of Flint have filed a lawsuit against Michigan governor Rick Snyder and other state officials for allegedly failing to prevent lead contamination in drinking water.

The lawsuit is claimed to be filed ‘on behalf of the tens of thousands of Flint residents’ against officials for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act, reported CNN.

Since 2014, residents were supplied with drinking water from the Flint River system, which was tainted with lead.

According to the lawsuit, officials also downplayed the issue’s seriousness and failed to take preventive measures.

Govorner Snyder previously stated that the crisis occurred due to a series of failures by local, state and federal officials, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Several state environmental officials have either resigned or were sacked following the lead contamination.

The families claimed in the lawsuit that children are suffering from serious health conditions, including neurological disorders, due to ‘high levels of lead and copper’, which entered their brains, bloodstreams, bones and organs, reported CNN.

A representative of Synder’s office was quoted by CNN as saying: "We are focused on solutions for the people of Flint and we want to stay focused and avoid any distractions."