Wisconsin City Sues PFAS Manufacturers for Groundwater Contamination

Wausau, a central Wisconsin city with nearly 40,000 residents, has initiated legal proceedings against 15 manufacturers of persistent organic pollutants known as "forever chemicals" or PFAS. The lawsuit, filed by the national environmental litigation firm Napoli Shkolnik, also targets 61 major insurance companies. The city alleges that PFAS contamination has significantly affected its drinking water wells, leading to severe health and environmental consequences.

The legal action was prompted by the detection of PFAS in six groundwater wells, directly attributed to the historical use of these chemicals by the defendants and other manufacturing entities in the region. PFAS, widely employed in industrial and consumer products, have been produced for decades without adequate disclosure of associated risks to the public. The lawsuit contends that the defendants, who amassed significant profits from products found in nearly every American household, failed to prioritize community health and safety.

Wausau currently faces one of the most pervasive PFAS contaminations in the state, impacting all of its drinking water wells. To address this crisis, the city council has approved a $17.5 million budget for the installation of a granulated carbon filtration system, recognized as the most effective method for removing PFAS from water. This comprehensive filtration initiative is expected to be implemented over the next year. In response to the contamination, the city has also distributed substantial amounts of bottled water and filtration pitchers to residents since January 2022.

The legal action follows a growing trend in Wisconsin, where several municipalities have taken legal measures against PFAS users and manufacturers. Notably, in November, residents of Campbell filed a lawsuit against the neighboring city of La Crosse, seeking compensation for property damage and a medical study on health impacts resulting from PFAS exposure. In August, residents of Stella filed a lawsuit against the Ahlstrom-Munksjö Rhinelander paper plant over sludge used as fertilizer, and earlier this year, Stella sued PFAS manufacturers over private well contamination.

This legal landscape is not unique to Wausau; in 2021, Tyco Fire Products settled a class action lawsuit with Peshtigo residents, and Dane County brought a lawsuit in 2022, consolidated in a federal court in South Carolina. Notably, 3M, a major PFAS manufacturer, proposed a $10.3 billion settlement earlier this year to address the impact on affected communities.

The state of Wisconsin, through Attorney General Josh Kaul, has also taken legal action against Tyco. Alleging that the company knowingly released PFAS into the environment, putting residents in Marinette and Peshtigo at risk, the lawsuit further underscores the urgency and widespread concern regarding PFAS contamination.

As these legal battles unfold, the broader implications of PFAS contamination on public health, the environment, and corporate accountability continue to draw attention, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and decisive action to address the consequences of prolonged exposure to these harmful chemicals.