Water Contamination Class Action Lawsuits

We cannot live without water, but water contamination has become a growing problem across the U.S. There are so many ways for toxic chemicals to seep into the groundwater before it is consumed by people. Drinking contaminated water can increase the risk of developing different types of cancer and suffering long-term health problems, particularly in children.

If you, your child or a loved one were injured after consuming contaminated water, including water contaminated by perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, herbicides, firefighting foam, heavy metals, or other substances, our experienced defective products lawyers may be able to help you seek compensation. We are committed to holding negligent parties accountable for the damage they have caused.

An initial consultation with a licensed attorney is free of charge and there is no obligation to take legal action after this meeting. There are also no upfront fees with our services. We know this is a difficult time for you, and you should not be burdened with additional expenses.

Our firm has secured more than $300 million on behalf of our clients.* Firm partner Arthur Lynch is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Give us a call today to learn more. Phone: (800) 518-0508 .

Are You Eligible to Seek Compensation?

There are so many factors to consider when attempting to answer this question. It would be in your best interest to meet with a licensed attorney to discuss your situation in detail. That will allow your attorney to discuss possible legal options and possible next steps.

We need to determine if your drinking water was contaminated, who may be liable, and how your diagnosis is linked to ingesting contaminated water. If you have reason to believe you have a case, give us a call as soon as possible to discuss it. There is limited time to take legal action.

Why Your Water Became Contaminated

One of the factors we need to review is the reason why the water you or your loved one drank was contaminated. There are so many reasons why contaminated water could make its way from the ground or other sources into people’s faucets.

In recent years, there has been much more concern about fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides getting into water through runoff or the soil. The popular herbicide paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, while the weed killer Roundup has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can also cause life-changing injuries. These chemicals may get into the drinking water through the soil. They may also be carried by rainwater at sites where these chemicals are made and disposed of.

PFAS and other harmful chemicals could also contaminate drinking water because of:

  • Industrial dumping, whether intentional or accidental
  • Leaching from landfills into soil and bodies of water
  • Fracking for natural gas
  • Abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites (the Groundwater Foundation estimates there are about 20,000 such sites)
  • Agricultural runoff, such as from paraquat being sprayed at a farm near where you live
  • Runoff from salt and other chemicals used to de-ice roadways
  • Leaking storage tanks that contain chemicals or waste
  • Contamination of lead pipes

It can be quite easy for water to become contaminated because water has a natural ability to dissolve minerals and carry them.

Some types of jobs greatly increase your risk of ingesting harmful chemicals. For example, farmers, landscapers and others working in agriculture may work with harmful chemicals or work close to those who do.

Your Diagnosis

Our attorneys also need to review your diagnosis to determine how it may be linked to contaminated drinking water. Some of the health issues that may be a reason to file a water contamination lawsuit include:

  • Developmental problems in children (low birth weight, impaired response to vaccines, accelerated puberty)
  • Cancers, including testicular, kidney and pancreatic cancer
  • Damage to the liver
  • Impaired immune system
  • Hormonal problems, including disruption of the normal functioning of the thyroid gland
  • Damage to the kidneys
  • Neurological disorders
  • Anemia
  • Infertility
  • Increased risk of high cholesterol
  • Complications with pregnancy
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Learning disabilities in children
  • And many other health problems

People do not always experience health issues after exposure to PFAS. Our attorneys need to consider the duration of exposure, frequency of exposure and the amount of harmful chemicals they were exposed to.

We are prepared to guide you through each step of the legal process, investigating, gathering evidence, negotiating for compensation and preparing for trial.

Contact us today for legal assistance. Call (800) 518-0508 .

Damages in a Water Contamination Lawsuit

Past and future medical bills often make a significant portion of the damages in a personal injury lawsuit. If our attorneys find you have a valid case and you hire us to represent you, we are prepared to seek maximum compensation for your damages.

The injuries caused by contaminated water could be life-threatening for some, while others may be permanently disabled or have permanent medical problems that must be managed with prescription medication and other treatments.

Victims may also be eligible for compensation for things like:

  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Lost companionship
  • Wrongful death damages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost enjoyment of life

You can discuss the potential value of your claim and the damages you may be able to include in a free consultation.

Laws and Regulations Protecting Drinking Water

There are two federal laws that are designed to prevent contamination of water and protect people from contaminated water.

Clean Water Act

This law was passed in 1972, which created the basic structure for regulating the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waterways and set quality standards for waters on the surface. The Clean Water Act allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement pollution control programs and set national water quality standards that all states must comply with.

Safe Drinking Water Act

This law was passed just two years after the Clean Water Act. This law is meant to protect drinking water that is drawn from places like:

  • Rivers
  • Lakes
  • Springs
  • Groundwater
  • Wells

Under the authority of this law, the EPA sets a safety threshold for 90 contaminants in drinking water. Water authorities are required to regularly test public water to make sure it is not more contaminated than the law allows.

Proving violations of these two laws could provide strong evidence for a water contamination lawsuit. Our licensed attorneys are prepared to review these laws and the factors that led to your drinking water being contaminated.

Research on Water Contaminants

Research has linked exposure to PFAS, such as those that may seep into drinking water, to severe health problems. Three epidemiologists reviewed a variety of scientific research during a class action case against DuPont in 2005. They concluded there was a probable link between exposure to PFAS and conditions like:

  • Thyroid disease
  • Kidney cancer
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure

There was another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2012 linking PFAS to suppression of the response to vaccines. For example, elevated exposure to PFAS in children between five and seven years of age was linked to lessened response to immunizations.

There was another study one year later linking higher levels of PFAS with various cancers, like testicular cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

A study done at the University of Washington and published in 2019 found exposure to glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup, could raise the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by nearly 41 percent. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of existing literature on the subject.

Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) contains PFAS and could contaminate drinking water. The U.S. Armed Forces has conducted research showing a connection between severe health problems and exposure to this substance. Research by the EPA also found strong links between exposure to this substance and serious health problems.

Lawsuits Over Contaminated Water and PFAS

There have been numerous lawsuits over drinking water being contaminated with toxic chemicals. Many have resulted in large settlements being paid out by companies whose negligence contributed to contaminated water.

For example, DuPont and Chemours agreed to pay $671 million to resolve thousands of lawsuits claiming they allowed PFAS to leak from an industrial plant into local drinking water. The state of Minnesota also sued 3M in 2018 alleging the company was responsible for contaminating drinking water and natural resources in the Twin Cities.

3M agreed to pay $850 million to settle the case. There was also a $921 million settlement of 3,500 lawsuits against DuPont. The case alleged hundreds of thousands of pounds of a toxic chemical used to make Teflon was dumped into the Ohio River and made its way into the drinking water of 70,000 residents.

In July 2021, multiple companies agreed to pay $65.25 million to resolve claims they contaminated a New York town’s drinking water. The companies included 3M, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell.

There was also a significant settlement in a case involving Roundup. A former groundskeeper was awarded $289 million dollars in his lawsuit against Monsanto. The groundskeeper was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that was caused by his exposure to glyphosate. Thousands more lawsuits have been filed alleging Monsanto’s negligence led to people being diagnosed with cancer because of their exposure to glyphosate.

Contact Lynch Law Firm, PC About a Water Contamination Lawsuit

Drinking contaminated water can lead to life-changing or life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, contamination is often a result of negligence on the part of a corporation, which means injuries could have been prevented.

Our experienced attorneys are prepared to help victims of corporate negligence. We have the resources, knowledge and experience to take on large corporations and build strong cases for our clients. For more than 20 years, we have been recovering millions on behalf of our clients.*

We take cases on contingency, which means no upfront fees. There are also no fees while working on your case.

Contact Lynch Law Firm, PC today. No upfront fees. (800) 518-0508

* Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Trusted By:

  • trusted by sponsors
  • trusted by sponsors
  • trusted by sponsors
  • trusted by sponsors
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court.