A new lawsuit has been filed by multiple public drinking water systems in California against seven manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), informs Reuters. It is one more step to hold corporations accountable for contaminating water sources with PFAS, and also one of the first to refer to the new federal drinking water standards for these chemicals, issued last week.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court by the Orange County Water District joined by over a dozen other utilities, targets companies like Dynax America Corp. and Arkema Inc. for negligence and creating a nuisance through PFAS contamination of water.
PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," are prevalent in numerous consumer and commercial products. Their persistence in the environment and the human body poses serious health risks, prompting the Biden administration to implement regulations limiting PFAS levels in drinking water. Although the recent regulations directly apply to drinking water systems rather than manufacturers, legal experts suggest that they provide a clear benchmark for acceptable PFAS levels in drinking water. This clarity can support the position of water systems seeking money to remediate contamination in court, as they can more easily prove they have been harmed by PFAS pollution.
The significance of this legal action extends beyond California, and the lawsuit is expected to be consolidated with similar cases in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in federal court in South Carolina. The new lawsuit follows a series of high-profile settlements between water systems and major chemical companies, including 3M, DuPont-related companies, and Tyco Fire Products, totalling over $14 billion. The funds will help public water systems across the U.S. to deal with PFAS detection and impending regulations.
