Two lawsuits were filed on behalf of residents of Denmark, S.C., where a CNN investigation revealed a chemical was being added to the water supply for a decade without approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, according to CNN.
The South Carolina city has been under scrutiny from residents wary of the rust-colored water coming from their taps despite assurance from government officials that it was safe to drink.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of three city residents, representing the class, claims, "Plaintiffs were damaged by defendant's conduct as plaintiffs purchased and consumed water that included a chemical that was not approved by the EPA and was not determined to be safe to people or the environment," according to CNN.
One of the lawsuits seeks reimbursement for water bills for the 10 years the chemical was added to the water supply, and it claims the local government had no right to make people pay for water that was not potable.