Federal appeals court says clean drinking water is not a constitutional right

A federal appeals court has ruled that access to clean drinking water is not a constitutional right. The decision stems from a 2022 lawsuit initiated by residents of Jackson, Mississippi, who sought legal recourse regarding the city's lead-contaminated water infrastructure.

The court's determination establishes a legal precedent regarding the scope of constitutional protections as they relate to public utility services and environmental health. By denying that clean water is a fundamental constitutional right, the ruling limits the grounds upon which similar future litigation can be brought against municipal water systems in federal court.