Texas City Sues Department of Defense Over Drinking Water Contamination

Anne Thompson

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Why It Matters

The lawsuit comes as concerns rise nationwide about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in products and waterways. PFAS encompass thousands of man-made chemicals found in everyday items like nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, grease-resistant food wrappers, water-resistant clothing and other items. PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" because of the long time they take to break down, can cause harm in high exposure amounts. Fort Worth is suing the current administration for the contamination despite the military allegedly used the chemicals between the 1970s and 2023, according to the lawsuit. Federal limits for certain PFAS in drinking water were established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year under the Biden administration.

PFAS trump administration lawsuit texas — A stock image of tap water flowing into a glass. sonmez/Getty

What to Know

Fort Worth officials allege that the use of aqueous film-forming foam, which contained PFAS, contaminated Fort Worth's drinking water sources. The foam is often used to suppress fires. The lawsuit claims that the manufacturers were aware of the harmful impacts of PFAS and sold the foam anyway. When the foam was used at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and Fort Worth-based Air Force Plant 4, it allegedly contaminated the city's water supply. Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, including Santa Clara County in California. County officials filed a lawsuit earlier this year, alleging the products contaminated Santa Clara County waterways when the foam was sprayed on the ground during firefighter training. During the breakdown process, PFAS can leach into the soil and water supply. These chemicals also threaten the water when products containing them are dumped onto the ground or into lakes and rivers. PFAS have been found in nearly half of the nation's tap water. PFAS exposure has been linked to health issues such as cancer or suppressed immune function. Last year, a similar lawsuit filed against 3M and DuPont alleged that PFAS in their products caused a 29-year-old Englewood, Ohio, man to suffer from testicular cancer. Fort Worth officials allegedly acquired significant expenses to remedy the PFAS in their waterways, such as testing the water quality and constructing filtration systems, the Fort Worth Report reported.

What People Are Saying

A Fort Worth spokesperson told Newsweek: "The City of Fort Worth has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and multiple manufacturers of PFAS chemicals to hold them accountable for contaminating Fort Worth's drinking water sources. These 'forever chemicals' have been linked to serious health risks." The statement added: "Rather than accepting a national settlement that would have provided inadequate compensation, Fort Worth has chosen to pursue our own legal action. The city is seeking $400 million in damages to ensure those responsible bear the cost of cleanup—not our residents." "We are committed to protecting our drinking water and public health; this legal action is a necessary step in that effort."