Five Lanzhou citizens are trying to sue the Veolia Water Corporation for failing to guarantee water quality and providing unhealthy tap water to residents in Lanzhou due to the benzene contamination. However, on Monday, Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court said it will not file the case, because the five citizens are not "authoritative units and related organizations", which means they are not qualified to file such litigation according to Article 55 of the Civil Procedure Law.

An investigation into the incident to determine accountability is necessary, but the best way for citizens to protect themselves and exercise their rights is within the legal framework. However, this effort to seek the support of the law has been stopped by the court, said a commentary of Youth Times.

That five Lanzhou citizens are suing the water company can be seen as public interest litigation because they represent all Lanzhou citizens whose health has been endangered. But it is also a tort action because the contamination was a civil wrong that harmed others, even if it was accidental. The court should not just reject the public interest case and ignore the interests of the five citizens.