Fifth Circuit rules no constitutional right to clean water in Jackson case

A U.S. appellate court in the Fifth Circuit upheld the dismissal of a 2022 Jackson residents’ suit alleging tainted drinking water violated constitutional rights, ruling that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to be free from contaminated water or to receive information from public officials. The court urged plaintiffs to pursue tort claims or elect representatives to address the water system, while acknowledging ongoing state and federal efforts to improve Jackson’s water quality. The decision also notes related civil-rights complaints, including allegations that federal drinking-water funds were diverted to white communities.