No one is diverting attention from anyone responsible for the illegally high levels of lead in Flint, Michigan water supply. Engineers are more responsible than others because they should know better. Engineers are educated people and
November 15, 2019
Flint - A judge (click here) has dismissed much of a civil lawsuit filed against engineering companies that were hired by Flint, Michigan, during its disastrous water switch in 2014.
The attorney general’s office has argued that Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam have some responsibility for the lead crisis in Flint. But Genesee County Judge Richard Yuille dismissed most counts last week, leaving only a claim of unjust enrichment.
The engineering companies deny any liability and say they warned Flint about challenges with its water plant. They’re still being sued by Flint residents in federal court.
Veolia welcomed the judge’s decision and said the lawsuit was an attempt to divert responsibility from state regulators. Lockwood, Andrews had a similar reaction. Attorney General Dana Nessel plans to press ahead.
Below is an e-page from an engineering firm that works with water and in particular water used by school children. No one group of people working with drinking water is exempt. Not one. The State, Federal, Local AND Private organizations are responsible for the knowledge they had and the way they applied it. Just because the government neglected its responsibility to a primarily minority community that doesn't mean the private sector gets away with it as if the government was supposed to have more advanced skills and knowledge.
ANY private contractor involved in these circumstances are responsible for the outcome. The Attorney General is correct, Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Engineering firm is responsible for the negligence as well. They were hired to work on the water supply. This decision by Judge Yuille is at least curious if not suspicious. Does the Judge understand the issue and the brevity of the professionals working on the Flint water supply? If the answer is yes, then dismissal was a gift to the engineering firm for some reason.
Since 2017, (click here) Terraphase (engineering) has sampled over 800 schools, taking more than 8,000 water samples to test for lead in drinking water in support of school, state, and local programs and providing recommendations for fixes. Our involvement includes:
- Providing drinking water testing and compliance support under EPA Lead and Copper Rule and 3Ts approach
- Supporting the School District of Philadelphia with lead in drinking water sampling for over 300 facilities per City of Philadelphia Code, Title 4, Section A-703.1 (amended), pertaining to “Special Certificate of Inspection” requiring certification of water quality as a condition of occupancy for buildings used for education
- Supporting California water districts with lead in drinking water sampling for schools under California SWRCB-DDW Permit Amendments CA HSC Sec. 116277/Assembly Bill (AB) 746
- Testing for lead in school drinking water on behalf of private schools
- Developing and implementing site-specific training programs
