National attention has been focused on Flint, Michigan, where residents continue to deal with the effects of a months-long problem with high lead levels in its water - a problem residents say is partially the fault of government mishandling.

The 17-member committee would recommend ways to help people exposed to lead, study Flint's water infrastructure and determine possible upgrades.

Members will serve three-year terms expiring December 31, 2018.

"EPA has determined the State of MI and the City of Flint's responses to the drinking water crisis in Flint have been inadequate to protect public health, there are serious, ongoing concerns with delays, lack of adequate transparency and capacity to safely manage the drinking water system", the EPA said in a statement at the time.

Gov. Snyder's administration has estimated it could cost up to $55 million to fix what officials have estimated are 15,000 damaged lead service lines leading from water mains to homes and other buildings.

Now, the city government is forcing Flint citizens to pay water bills regardless of the quality of the water. In an interview airing on CNN Wednesday evening, Snyder said that officials expect a higher tally of children affected than blood tests have shown so far. Flint has some 33,000 water service lines.

More than 176,000 cases of water, 93,000 water filters and 29,000 water testing kits had been distributed to residents since January 6, the day after Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency, the Associated Press reported on January 16.

It was the latest in a series of events tied to the city's switch in 2014 from the Detroit municipal water system to corrosive Flint River water while under state emergency management to save money.

Michigan's governor will meet with the mayor of Flint Wednesday to discuss a new approach to the city's toxic water disaster. Residents had been complaining since the city switched from Detroit water to water from the Flint River in 2014.

The lawsuit alleges that city and state officials have violated the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

In his talk, Brooks called for the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a federal investigation of what led to the contamination, saying that a state-level investigation by the Michigan Attorney General's Office was inadequate.

Schuette has said the special counsel will prevent conflicts of interest, since the attorney general's office also will defend the state against lawsuits brought by Flint residents.

"We want to highlight our lack of trust in state and federal government to properly address both the short-term crisis of the Flint water poisoning, and Detroit water shutoffs and the long-term effects and solutions", Wedes said. The others seek financial damages and class-action status.

Mayor Weaver said residents should not have to pay for the water "they did not and are not using".

This item has been corrected to reflect the proper name of the Natural Resources Defense Council.