After Flint, Michigan toughened lead rules. Now water utilities are suing.
LANSING Michigan last June adopted the nations strictest rule for lead in drinking water, including requiring utilities to replace all of the states roughly 500,000 lead service pipes within 20 years.
Public health advocates applauded then-Gov. Rick Snyders move as an important step toward protecting Michigans drinking water after his administrations actions and inactions triggered Flints lead exposure crisis.
But six months later, the fate of the regulation is anything but certain.
Detroit-area water providers are trying to thwart the rule in the Michigan Court of Claims. Filed in mid-December, their lawsuit calls new requirements under the rule arbitrary, too costly and ineffective for addressing Michigans most serious lead threats.
The plaintiffs include the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, the Great Lakes Water Authority and the City of Livonia. The coalition provides water to more than half of Michigans population.
Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/after-flint-michigan-toughened-lead-rules-now-water-utilities-are-suing