A southeast Ohio water company has filed a lawsuit against chemical companies alleging contamination
By: Abigail Semple
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The water company that provides drinking water to six counties in southeast Ohio is suing several chemical companies, claiming they made and sold toxic “forever chemicals” that have contaminated its property.
Pike Water Inc. filed the lawsuit in April against AGC Chemicals Americas Inc. and 14 other companies that it alleges designed, manufactured, marketed, distributed, and/or sold chemicals that have been linked to cancer and pregnancy complications.
These chemicals are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not biodegrade in the environment. The lawsuit notes these compounds can move easily through soil and groundwater and pose a significant risk to environmental and human health and safety.
Pike Water claims these compounds have been found on its property and seeks “to recover any and all past and future compensatory and/or consequential damages for the investigation, remediation, treatment, removal, disposal, and/or monitoring of the ongoing contamination of its water resources, including its water supply, water wells, water treatment facilities.”
This seems to suggest the company’s water supply has already been contaminated with the chemicals. WOUB reached out to Pike Water for confirmation, but no one from the company was available for comment. The company’s attorneys were also contacted but declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Exposure to one of the chemical compounds has been linked to such health conditions as high cholesterol, increased liver enzymes, decreased vaccination response, thyroid disorders, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and testicular and kidney cancer, according to the lawsuit.
“Moreover, (these chemicals) are persistent in the human body and resistant to metabolic degradation,” according to the lawsuit. “A short-term exposure can result in a body burden that persists for years and can increase with additional exposures. … Additionally, the EPA has noted that drinking water can be an additional source of (the chemicals) in the body.”
Given the non-biodegradable nature of the compounds, it is unclear what form of remediation the water company has been engaged in since discovery was made on its property. It is also unclear if the company has notified customers of the contamination.
Pike Water serves Pike, Ross, Jackson, Adams, Highland and Scioto counties.
The case has since been moved to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina where at least 1,100 other similar lawsuits are pending.
