US authorities said on Thursday that former governor Rick Snyder, among many other officials in the state of Michigan, has been formally charged in the Flint water crisis. 

Snyder is accused of knowingly ignoring his duty of protecting the people of the state who were residing in a decaying industrial city that polluted the Flint River, a major source of drinking water. 

Contaminants like lead were allowed to get mixed up in the river after state officials failed to install corrosion controls to the city’s pipe system. 

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Twelve people died of Legionnaire’s disease due to the negligent behaviour of city officials, who initially denied complaints relating to the outbreak. 

Fadwa Hammoud, the state solicitor, said in a press conference, “The people of Flint continue to suffer from the categorical failure of public officials at all levels of government who trampled upon their trust and evaded accountability for far too long.” 

Snyder, who was among nine former officials charged, pleaded not guilty Thursday to two misdemeanor charges. He faces up to a year in jail on each count if convicted.

Nicolas Lyon, the former director of the state health department, was charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, which has a punishment of up to 15 years in prison.

Eden Wells, ex-executive of state medical services, was also hit with nine charges of involuntary manslaughter and an allegation of willful neglect of duty.

Nancy Peeler, a former health official, misrepresented data related to elevated blood lead levels of children in the city of Flint, according to Hammoud. 

Three former local officials and two from Snyder’s team were also charged.

Authorities now say Flint’s water meets federal safety guidelines, outperforming comparable cities.

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According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the water in the city is safe to use for bathing and washing hands without filtration. However, it is strongly suggested that it should not be used for purposes like cooking or brushing teeth. 

A total of $600 million have been allocated to pay the victims of the crisis in Michigan. 

Most of the money is earmarked for children in the city of Flint, who were at the greatest risk of neurological and physical harm from lead-tainted tap water.

More than 8,000 children are believed to have consumed lead-contaminated water, and a study found that the proportion of infants and children with high lead levels doubled after the water source switch.