Flint Found in Contempt for Failing Lead Pipe Replacement Deadlines

A federal judge has ruled against the city of Flint, Michigan, for not meeting the court-ordered deadlines to replace lead-contaminated water pipes.

U.S. District Judge David Lawson found Flint in civil contempt for missing deadlines outlined in a February 2023 court order.
The city had initially promised to replace the lead pipes by early 2020, but has yet to complete the work.
Nearly 2,000 homes still suffer from damage due to the lead pipe replacement program.
Other than awarding attorney fees to plaintiffs, no specific penalties were set for Flint's continued non-compliance.
The ruling comes nearly a decade after the Flint water crisis began and almost seven years after a settlement in a citizen lawsuit.