Residents of McNeil Island facility sue over brown water

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Residents of the Special Commitment Center for violent sex offenders on McNeil Island have filed a lawsuit against the facility because of discolored water.

The News Tribune reports that residents of the facility describe the water as being as dark as mild coffee from sediment that accumulates in it. The federal lawsuit filed by 29 residents of the facility as part of an ongoing grievance by resident James Jones, who has been at the facility since 2013.

Jones sued the facility over the water and ventilation system, but the lawsuit was thrown out. The Ninth Circuit Court of Repeals recently returned the case to District Court over the condition of the water, dismissing other claims. At that time 28 other residents signed on to the case.

State officials say the water is discolored but still safe to drink.