PFAS

PFAS Water Contamination
The manufacture and release of PFAS chemicals is contaminating water supplies nationwide.  

“Forever chemicals”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a group of hundreds of man-made chemicals not found in the natural world.  The long-lasting properties of these chemicals and their resistance to natural degradation over time has led to lawsuits referring to PFAS as “forever chemicals.”  

Why is PFAS a problem?
PFAS has been manufactured and distributed for years in products like Scotchgaurd, Teflon coated products, as well as fire fighting foams.  PFAS chemicals, including the most common PFOS and PFOA mix with neither water nor oil.  This allows these chemicals to act as effective surfactants but also means they are pernicious pollutants that easily seep through concrete and soil and into the groundwater where they spread and accumulate over time.  Groundwater contamination with PFAS is a significant public health concern because these chemicals have been linked to serious health effects in humans such as cancer, hormonal disruption, immune suppression, and low infant birth weight.

What must be done to protect our water?
Fortunately, because of the environmental and health concerns, manufacture and distribution of PFAS has diminished.  However, the contamination problem persists.  The EPA has announced impending regulation of levels of PFAS in drinking water at very low levels.  This puts many water authorities and other public entities in a difficult situation where they may be forced to investigate the levels of PFAS and potentially take remedial action which could include expensive new filtrations systems and clean-up efforts.

Why the lawsuits?  
The manufacturers of these chemicals have known for many years about the dangers of PFAS, and at least in some instances, declined to use alternative methods for manufacture or alternative chemicals as surfactants.  In instances where the manufacturer was negligent in its use and/or distribution of PFAS, we believe fairness requires they should be made to pay for the remediation efforts required, not taxpayers or rate-payers for water.  Suits are already on file in multiple courts representing the interests of cities, counties, water authorities, airports, and fire departments.