A class action lawsuit has been filed by four residents of Jackson, Mississippi, over the city’s recent water crisis.

The lawsuit claims that the city, including its current and former mayors, city officials, and partnered engineering companies had for years neglected the water infrastructure system which helped lead to the current water crisis. As a result, over 150,000 people have had to deal with contaminated water supplies or no access to water altogether.

The city’s already struggling water infrastructure was pushed to the brink after recent flood waters caused the city’s water treatment plant to fail. Prior to the treatment plant’s failure, the city had been under an alert since June, with residents being advised to boil their water before use.

The lawsuit details that the lack of clean water impacted residents in more ways than just having an inadequate source of drinking water. "During the long period where the city pipes had no water pressure — and were unable to facilitate the flow of water — residents of Jackson could not flush their toilets for days at a time," the lawsuit explains.

The lawsuit describes the crisis as one which was “decades in the making” that left “Jackson residents in an untenable position — without access to clean, safe water in 2022 in a major United States city."

Along with not having clean water to drink or use, the lawsuit further alleges that the water supply available had negative implications on residents with some residents allegedly being poisoned by lead and other contaminants in the water supply.

These allegations come on the heels of a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of roughly 1,800 children. That lawsuit alleges that these children were victims because the State Health Department failed to prevent contaminants, including lead, from seeping into the water supply.

One of the named plaintiffs in this latest lawsuit, Priscilla Sterling, details that she has had “several of her children diagnosed with lead poisoning.” The lawsuit explains that Sterling’s “entire household has experienced frequent episodes of unexplained itching. They attempted to have their water tested for lead and other contaminants but have not been able to obtain assistance in setting up a test. Each of these issues was caused by exposure to lead or other contaminants from Jackson’s tap water during the relevant time period.”

Sterling’s story mimics many others where entire households have complained about unexplainable itching, rashes, headaches, and other ailments related to lead poisoning.

Along with the complaint, the plaintiffs are asking to have their water bills and other water-related bills canceled. The complaint is also asking for community health centers to provide medical services to individuals who have been harmed by the contaminated water. Plaintiffs are also seeking to have “removal and remediation of lead pipes and fixtures” and “an adequate water supply delivered to each home until the water supply is safe for consumption.”