A federal judge ruled that residents of Flint, Michigan who were affected by water contamination have a right to sue the US government.

Judge Linda Parker deemed that the case brought by Flint residents against the Environmental Protection Agency for “mishandling” the 2014 crisis can move forward, despite attorneys for the agency arguing that the agency wasn’t liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act discretionary function exception.

Linda Parker, who serves as a judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan said the government is not immune from a lawsuit.

There was no ruling on if federal employees were negligent in addressing Flint’s contaminated water.

Flint’s water issues arose after it was found that after switching sources from Lake Huron to the Flint River in 2014, which according to Virginia Tech researchers, is 19 times more corrosive.

In pictures: Flint water crisis Show all 10 1 / 10 In pictures: Flint water crisis In pictures: Flint water crisis Anthony Fordham picks up bottled water from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to deliver to a school after elevated lead levels were found in the city's water in Flint Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Michigan National Guard Staff Sergeant William Phillips (L) assists a Flint resident with bottled water at a fire station in Flint Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Flint residents Arthur Woodson, left, and Tony Palladino Jr. protest the arrival of Flint native and filmmaker Michael Moore as Moore accuses Gov.Rick Snyder of poisoning Flint water during a rally outside of city hall in Flint AP In pictures: Flint water crisis Flint residents pick up bottled water and water filters at a fire station in Flint. Michigan National Guard members were set to arrive in Flint to join door-to-door efforts to distribute bottled water and other supplies to residents coping with the city's crisis over lead-contaminated drinking water Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard Flint prepare to give Flint residents bottled water at a fire station in Flint Getty Images In pictures: Flint water crisis Justin Roberson (L), age 6, of Flint, Michigan and Mychal Adams, age 1, of Flint wait on a stack of bottled water at a rally where the Rev. Jesse Jackson was speaking about about the water crises at the Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint Getty Images In pictures: Flint water crisis A man sits next to a stack of bottled water at the Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint 2016 Getty Images In pictures: Flint water crisis The top of a water tower is seen at the Flint Water Plant. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Michigan and ordered federal aid to be used to help state and local response efforts to an area affected by contaminated water Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Rosie Wright, center, rallies with the crowd over Flint's water crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan AP In pictures: Flint water crisis Rick Catherman participates in a rally around Flint's water crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan AP

Almost immediately after the switch, Flint residents began to suffer from hair loss, rashes, lead poisoning, foetal death, and Legionnaires disease, which affected 87 and killed 12. The water was discolored and infused with high levels of lead.

This was ongoing for months, with low-level employees reporting to higher level EPA officials who failed to take action. Residents blame the EPA for mishandling the crisis, not warning residents of ongoing contamination. Plaintiffs in the case argue that the EPA failed to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to address the health risks from lead-laden water.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Then-President Barack Obama declared a federal state of emergency for the town, but even that was not enough to fix the crisis.

Mayor Karen Weaver of Flint, Michigan had previously told The Independent that had the city not been predominantly people of colour, the crisis may not have happened, or been handled differently.