Newark’s mayor says that the city’s water is not worse than that of Flint, Michigan.

The allegation was made by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Newark’s water has been cited for elevated levels of lead.

Mayor Ras Baraka says that Newark’s water is delivered to many homes through obsolete infrastructure that the city does not own.

Baraka says that the situation in Newark is different from Flint for several reasons.

He says that Flint switched to a different water supply and stopped corrosion control. Newark's grew less effective and the mayor says that this is being improved.

Baraka also said that Flint had bacteria control issues, which Newark does not have. Also he says that Flint officials ignored lead level elevations and that Newark is in full compliance.

"The Safe Drinking Water Act does not require Newark to provide filters for its residents – but Newark is doing so,” Baraka said in a statement. "The Safe Drinking Water Act does not require Newark to secure state funding to help its residents pay for replacing their lead service lines – but Newark is doing so."

The Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit against the city due to the water quality.