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Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, flanked by Gov. Rick Snyder, speaks about the Flint water crisis during a press conference on Jan. 27, 2016, at City Hall in downtown Flint.

(Flint Journal file photo)

FLINT, MI -- The city has joined the state of Michigan in fighting a federal court injunction that requires door-to-door delivery of water to residents.

In a filing at the U.S. Court of Appeals Tuesday, Nov. 29, attorneys for the city say a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson is "overbroad, and moreover, the city lacks the resources required to comply."

Lawson's order requires that Flint residents be provided with clear and current information about the lead contamination of their water and bottled water deliveries unless officials can prove there is an operating, properly-installed water filter in their home or if residents opt-out of deliveries.

State and federal officials say water quality is improving in Flint but continue to advise city residents not to drink tap water without a filter because of the potential for elevated lead levels.

The injunction is related to lawsuit filed by the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, Natural Resources Defense Council, Flint resident Melissa Mays and the American Civil Liberties Union. The parties are demanding the government provide door-to-door water delivery, filters and water line replacement at no cost to residents.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a spokeswoman for Flint Mayor Karen Weaver for comment on the decision to align the city with the state in the court battle.

Attorneys for state Treasurer Nick Khouri and the state-appointed Flint Receivership Transition Advisory Board are appealing the injunction and have asked both the U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for a stay in enforcement of the injunction, claiming most people in Flint don't need the home-delivered water and that the current system of distributing water at scattered sites and through limited home deliveries is working.

State attorneys say the injunction would cost taxpayers an estimated $10.5 million per month.

The city's filing Tuesday says it is in support of the state's appeal and says the city, community groups, state and federal government agencies are already "engaged in a massive recovery effort to address the water crisis, prevent its re-occurrence and protect resident.

The city's filing in support of the state came on the same day that representatives of the NRDC said in a conference call with reporters that the the state's priorities are misdirected in fighting the federal court order.

"The state is spending its time litigating instead of assuring safe water for its residents," Henry Henderson, NRDC's Midwest program director, said Tuesday.

ACLU coalition attorneys say existing water delivery programs are not reaching many in Flint, including those without transportation, and who cannot regularly visit water distribution sites.