PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit – August 2025 Update

Individuals are filing PFAS lawsuits against 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and other companies because these companies made products that polluted groundwater and wells with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or forever chemicals). These substances are toxic and may be causing people to develop cancer and other serious conditions.

Lawsuits filed due to PFAS exposure and illness have been consolidated into MDL #2873 IN RE: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court, District of South Carolina. There are more than 12,000 lawsuits in the federal PFAS litigation. The presiding judge is Honorable Richard M. Gergel. This lawsuit is in its mid-stages, and the parties continue to gather information and discuss possible settlements. People are continuing to file PFAS lawsuits today as they discover the link between their drinking water quality and their health.

PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit Timeline & News – August 2025

July 9, 2025: California Passes Bill to Reduce PFAS in Household Products

California lawmakers are considering a new law that would make it illegal for companies to sell some household cleaning and kitchen products with PFAS in them. The law would specifically target products where PFAS are intentionally added to the covered products. This ban includes the nonstick coating on cookware (such as pots and pans). California authorities hope this will help limit the amount of forever chemicals in people’s homes and in the environment. 

June 26, 2025: Kentucky Congressman Calls on EPA to Protect Ohio River from PFAS Contamination

Congressman Morgan McGarvey sent a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin, urging the EPA to keep strict PFAS regulations in place to make sure the Ohio River is safe. The Kentucky Congressman submitted this letter after the EPA announced that it would hold off on including so-called GenX forever chemicals in its regulatory ban. McGarvey noted that it is the responsibility of the at-fault companies to stop putting PFAS into the Ohio River, and the EPA is in the best position to hold these organizations accountable for their actions. McGarvey stressed that Kentucky is at a disadvantage as far as cleaning up water as long as these organizations are allowed to continue to pollute waterways unchecked. 

February 9, 2025: Colorado Residents Warned of Drinking Water Hazard and Told Not to Eat Freshwater Fish

Colorado residents were faced with several troubling pieces of information about their drinking water and the fish in their waterways. The Colorado government cautioned residents against eating freshwater fish that they caught in Colorado, citing unsafe levels of PFAS in the fish themselves as well as the water. Meanwhile, Colorado residents in smaller communities learn of the toxic forever chemicals in their water, and they are concerned about how and when the state will take steps to improve the quality. 

February 3, 2025: Researchers Uncover Concerning Levels of PFAS in Florida’s Freshwater Springs

A new study has discovered that 63% of samples from the opening of some freshwater springs in Florida had PFAS in them. Another 68 percent of the samples taken from the flowing body of the waterways contained PFAS. Based on this research, this means that PFAS have made it into the natural, underground aquifers, making it much more difficult for authorities to address.  

January 1, 2025: New York Makes It Illegal To Sell New Clothes With PFAS In Them

As part of its efforts to make New Yorkers’ drinking water safe, the state’s congress has passed a law to prevent companies from selling new clothes that have PFAS added to them. The law only applies to new clothes, and it prevents companies from selling apparel with intentionally added PFAS in it. The law went into effect January 1, 2025, and its ban will extend to some types of waterproof outdoor clothing as of January 1, 2028.

What is the PFAS Lawsuit About?

PFAS lawsuits have been filed due to polluted water supplies that have potentially sickened thousands of people. For years, companies have been making products with forever chemicals in them, and these toxins have seeped into the soil and groundwater. The runoff has polluted waterways and wells that Americans drink from on a daily basis. Because of the PFAS pollution, thousands of people have become sick with cancer and other diseases. Affected victims and their surviving loved ones are filing lawsuits against the companies at fault for this widespread contamination. 

PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit Information
Lawsuit Name:	IN RE: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation
Main Injuries:	Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Other Diseases
Defendants:	3M, Dupont, Chemours, and others
Mass tort or class action?	Mass tort
MDL Number:	MDL #2873
Pending Cases:	11,097
Court Name (Venue):	United States District Court, District of South Carolina
Have There Been Settlements?	Yes
Active Lawsuit?	Yes

Why Are People Filing PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuits?

People are filing lawsuits because they have discovered that their drinking water is contaminated by PFAS, a group of hazardous chemicals that are linked to cancer and other diseases. Companies have made products (like firefighting foam and waterproof active wear) that have released PFAS into the environment and poisoned the water supplies in thousands of communities across the United States. 

As a result, the rates of illnesses, like kidney cancer and thyroid disease, have increased in the affected areas. People are suing to hold these organizations accountable for the harm they have caused unsuspecting residents. They are also seeking compensation for the incredible losses they have suffered.

PFAS Lawsuit Spotlight

Swartz v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (2:18-cv-00136)Angela and Teddy Swartz sued Chemours and DuPont because the companies knowingly dumped PFAS into water supplies that the Swartzes drank from. Angela developed kidney cancer (which has a known PFAS link) after years of exposure. She had to undergo costly and invasive cancer treatments, which prevented her from living the full life she had before the diagnosis. Her husband, Teddy, joined the lawsuit, claiming compensation for the losses he suffered because of Angela’s cancer. Angela and Teddy won a $40 million verdict against Chemours and DuPont.

Who Is Filing PFAS Lawsuits?

People who drank PFAS-contaminated drinking water and developed a related cancer or disease may qualify to sue. Here are some of the common categories of PFAS victims based on the source of their exposure:

• Military service members and their families: AFFF and other PFAS-containing operations contaminated the water on military bases.
• People who lived near military installations: PFAS-containing firefighting foam leaked into their drinking water from nearby military bases.
• Firefighters, first responders, and airport personnel who worked with AFFF: This population may have been exposed to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) directly or in their drinking water, which is a known PFAS contaminant.
• People whose wells were contaminated with PFAS: This population may have lived near manufacturing plants or airports.
• People whose public water supplies were contaminated with PFAS: This population received their water from contaminated wells, such as those in heavily populated or industrial regions.
• People whose farmlands were contaminated with PFAS: This population’s waterways may have been contaminated by human waste and garbage (biosludge) that has PFAS in it.
• Public Water Systems Affected by PFAS: Many people’s public water systems have been poisoned by PFAS from textiles, nonstick cookware, industrial runoff, and other products or activities. Many jurisdictions are suing to help with remediation costs.

Many Americans were unaware of how prevalent and dangerous PFAS were in their drinking water. As public awareness grows, many people are discovering that they are among the thousands of victims who have been made sick because of the PFAS in their water.

Whom Are People Filing PFAS Lawsuits Against?

People are filing lawsuits against the companies that have contaminated waterways and water supplies with cancer-causing chemicals. Defendants in these lawsuits include companies that made textiles and activewear, firefighting foam, and nonstick cookware. 

These are a few of the defendants in the PFAS water contamination lawsuits:

• 3M
• DuPont (Dow Chemical Company)
• Chemours

Information for some of the defendants is listed below.

Defendant 1: 3M

3M was founded in 1902 and produces a range of products, including reflective material for road signs, masking tape, surgical tape, Post-it Notes, firefighting foam, insulation for activewear, and more. Many of these products either contain PFAS or release PFAS into the environment when they are created. 3M also supplies some fluoroplastics to other companies and forms partnerships to create or enhance goods. To date, the company holds or has applied for 100,000 patents for different designs over the years.

Defendant 2: DuPont

DuPont is a chemicals and materials company that was established in 1802. DuPont is a major player in various fields, including automotive, pharmaceutical, healthcare, beauty, and energy. The organization also worked with businesses (such as WL Gore) to create waterproof fibers that could be used in active wear and outdoor gear. Many of DuPont’s products have been found to contain PFAS, and the company also has an established history of using PFAS during the manufacturing process.

Defendant 3: Chemours

Chemours was founded in 2015 and was created by DuPont to manage its Performance Chemical operations. Chemours’ portfolio includes household names such as Freon and Teflon. The company is also a major producer of fire suppressants (like FM 200) that are widely used and have PFAS in them. While Chemours describes its fire suppressants as “clean,” this is misleading. Chemours bases this claim on the fact that it does not leave a residue or have the same corrosive potential as other options. However, its fire suppressants contain PFAS, which are hazardous to the environment and human health.

Allegations Against These Manufacturers

People, states, and attorneys general are accusing these manufacturers of fraudulent concealment (lying), negligence, public nuisance, and violations of state and federal environmental laws. The complaints filed against these companies explain how leaked internal documents show that 3M and DuPont knew about the dangers of PFAS and that they were dumping PFAS into the water and environment. According to these documents, none of these companies took any action to stop it, and they did not share their findings with the public or the government. 

They are also accused of breaking environmental laws about using, transporting, and disposing of harmful materials. These businesses are also under fire for poisoning the drinking water of millions of Americans.

What Are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade chemicals that are water, oil, and stain resistant. They were released in 1938 and are in products that many Americans use everyday, including beauty, automotive, firefighting foams, active wear, nonstick cookware, and more. 

Because PFAS remain stable when exposed to water and oil, they have become especially popular for fighting fuel fires and waterproofing items. However, their chemical composition makes them extremely durable, and they have polluted our bodies and environment. They gained the nickname forever chemicals because our bodies cannot break them down, and they can take up to 1,000 years to break down in the environment.

How Do PFAS Harm Human Health?

PFAS have a number of negative impacts on human health, including raising someone’s risk of cancer and other serious diseases. Most humans come into contact with PFAS when they drink water or eat food contaminated with the chemicals. PFAS get into our water supplies from many sources, including runoff from industrial activities (like manufacturing plants and airports) as well as from firefighting operations, agricultural processes, and household goods. When they enter our bodies, they can stay there for a long time, and they can build up in our kidneys and other organs. This places an enormous strain on our bodies and can lead to an increased risk of cancer and other diseases. 

PFAS have been found to be incredibly harmful to human health, especially PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), which are widely used. Exposure to PFAS can increase the risk of someone developing the following conditions: 

• Birth defects
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Lowered immune response
• Multiple-myeloma
• Kidney cancer
• Liver malfunction
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Reproductive issues
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Ulcerative colitis

The International Agency for Research on Cancer conducted several studies of these substances and their cancer-causing potential. The IARC has found that PFOA is a known carcinogen and PFOS is a possible carcinogen. The Environmental Protection Agency has also acknowledged the dangers of PFAS and has an action plan in place to help lower the PFAS contamination levels across the United States.

Studies Linking PFAS to Cancer in Humans

Dozens of scientific studies suggest that PFAS exposure through your job or from your household’s tap water is associated with higher rates of illnesses. These illnesses include several cancers of the blood and organs, as well as thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis.

Important Study: Associations between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and county-level cancer incidence between 2016 and 2021 and incident cancer burden attributable to PFAS in drinking water in the United States

This study uncovered groundbreaking links between PFAS and a broad range of illnesses. The authors examined cancer rates between 2016 and 2021 in communities whose drinking water was known to be contaminated with PFAS. 

The researchers found that PFAS exposure was associated with many different cancer types, including cancer of the kidneys, thyroid, throat, testicles, breasts, mouth, liver, colon, gallbladder, lungs, and intestines. The authors noted that there were differences in cancer types between men and women. This study, published in January 2025, was the first of its kind to look at the connection between PFAS and overall cancer rates. The findings provide critical insights that researchers can use to direct future studies and guide policies. 

Overview: Associations between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and county-level cancer incidence between 2016 and 2021 and incident cancer burden attributable to PFAS in drinking water in the United States
Description of Study:	The study looked at the connection between PFAS exposure from drinking water and the overall cancer rates between 2016 and 2021
Published In:	Nature Portfolio
Study Authors	Shiwen LiPaulina OlivaLu ZhangJesse A GoodrichRob McConnellDavid V ContiLida ChatziMax Aung
# of Participants	156.1 million (total dataset)
Findings	PFAS-contaminated drinking water was associated with over a dozen different types of cancers, including those of the lungs, kidneys, liver, throat, mouth, colon, gallbladder, thyroid, and intestines.

What Products Have PFAS in Them?

PFAS are found in hundreds of industrial and consumer products, including:

• Firefighting foam (like aqueous film-forming foam)
• Teflon
• Gor-Tex active wear and outdoor gear
• Nonstick cookware
• Food packaging (e.g., wrappers and Tupperware)
• Carpeting
• Furniture
• Cosmetics
• Pesticides 
• Biosludge (farm fertilizers)

PFAS are durable and do not disintegrate when they come into contact with water or grease. Because of this, they were (and still are) widely popular for use in dozens of products.

How Are Most People Exposed to PFAS?

People can be exposed to PFAS because of where they work or live. For example, they may work at an airport, at a manufacturing plant, or on a military base, where these chemicals are used (such as to put out fires). Or, they may live in an industrial area or near a contaminated military base, where PFAS have leaked into the groundwater. The majority of Americans encounter PFAS in their homes through the food they eat (such as fish), the water they drink, or the products they use.

How Do PFAS Enter Water Supplies?

PFAS can enter drinking water supplies because it is released into the air, ground, or waterways (rivers, streams, creeks, etc.). For example, PFAS-containing firefighting foam can collect on the ground and spill off into the groundwater, which contaminates nearby drinking supplies. Additionally, some manufacturing plants have been under fire for directly dumping PFAS waste into the ground or water sources. Human waste and garbage contain forever chemicals, and they can combine with water to form biosludge, which can seep into the groundwater as well. Once these substances get into drinking water supplies, they tend to stay there indefinitely or spread to other waterways.

States With Water Supplies Affected by PFAS Contamination

PFAS contamination has reached crisis levels, such that all 50 states have drinking water supplies with forever chemicals. Some states have taken action to address PFAS contamination by passing state-level regulations to test and clean up the water. For example, California has been taking steps to create and enforce PFAS regulations to improve the water quality for as many residents as possible. Other states rely on the EPA’s federal guidelines to steer their testing and purification processes. For example, Virginia does not have its own PFAS limits; however, it has created a task force and is working closely with the EPA to identify contaminated water sources and curb further PFAS pollution. 

Some of the states currently battling PFAS contamination through lawsuits include:

• California
• New Jersey
• New York

EPA Regulations for PFAS

The EPA has passed several regulations to help identify and remove PFAS in wells across the country. For example, the Clean Water Act contains rules about how companies handle pollutants (like forever chemicals) that can get into this nation’s waterways. Additionally, under the act, organizations must submit reports and follow set procedures when releasing toxic waste into nearby water sources. 

As part of this initiative, the EPA has National Primary Drinking Water Regulations standards about toxins like PFAS. The regulations, which have been revised several times since they were first passed, require public water utilities to take steps to keep PFAS levels below certain levels. For instance, public utilities have until 2029 to make sure that the PFOA levels are below 4 parts per trillion. The EPA also partners with state and local governments to spread awareness and provide funding to at-risk areas or places where PFAS pollution has been particularly bad (like at military bases).

What Damages Can People Sue PFAS Manufacturers For?

People who got sick after drinking water contaminated with PFAS can sue for a variety of causes and related compensation. For example, they might request reimbursement for the cost of diagnosing and treating their PFAS-related cancer or removing PFAS from their drinking water. They may also qualify for money to address their lost wages or earning capacity, pain and suffering from living with cancer or a disease, or the loss of quality of their life. 

Who Qualifies to File a PFAS Lawsuit?

In order to file a PFAS lawsuit, each person has to meet certain eligibility requirements. Our legal partners are focusing on the specific injuries listed below:

• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Ulcerative colitis

The eligible illnesses may change throughout the course of this lawsuit. For example, you may have to prove you lived in an affected area for a certain amount of time prior to your diagnosis. You can contact our legal partners to understand your filing options and learn about updated eligibility criteria you should be aware of.

What Proof Do You Need to File a PFAS Lawsuit?

You must support your legal claim with relevant evidence showing that you were harmed by PFAS in your water, you are entitled to compensation, and who is at fault. For example, you may want to locate property or employment records showing that you lived or worked in an area contaminated with PFAS. Other important pieces of information include statements from your doctors that you have a cancer or disease that is connected to forever chemicals. 

You may also wish to collect insurance documents, medical bills, prescription drug receipts, and other related proofs of payment related to the PFAS contamination and treatment. You could also talk to loved ones and ask them for witness statements about how your health or demeanor changed after you got sick from the PFAS in your water.

Five Steps to Join the Group Lawsuit for Injuries Caused by PFAS

These are the five steps for filing a PFAS lawsuit:

1. Consult with a lawyer about whether you qualify for a PFAS compensation claim.
2. Work with the attorney to gather evidence for the legal complaint.
3. File the legal complaint against those who contaminated your drinking water.
4. Try to settle the PFAS contamination claim.
5. Prepare for trial if you cannot reach an out-of-court deal.

Your first step is to talk to an attorney with a history of handling water contamination lawsuits. They can review your information and determine if you are eligible to file a PFAS legal claim because of your diagnosis. They can also collaborate with you to locate key evidence you can use to support your request for damages. Your attorney will then finalize and submit the complaint (the document that opens the lawsuit) and serve it on the opposing party. Then, they will guide settlement discussions or prepare to take your PFAS case to trial.

What is the Deadline for Filing a PFAS Lawsuit?

People need to file their PFAS lawsuit before the statute of limitations ends. The deadline that applies to their case is unique to their situation, and it depends on factors like the law in their state and what type of claim (e.g., personal injury or wrongful death) they are bringing. There are rumors that the companies that have contaminated the drinking water with PFAS may enter into global settlements that may close the filing windows for many victims. Because of this, anyone who thinks they have a lawsuit is encouraged to act quickly to avoid missing out on compensation.

PFAS Settlements and Awards

Many victims have received settlements in the past from negotiated deals or at the conclusion of jury trials. Each case is decided on its own merits, so there is no average or guaranteed amount that a victim may receive. However, some legal scholars estimate that successful PFAS cases may result in a settlement of up to $100,000 to $350,000 or more.

PFAS Settlement Amount Per Person

The amount each person receives for their PFAS claim will be based on their specific situation. Additionally, the terms of an individual or group settlement deal will determine what each claimant may be entitled to. An attorney can help you by estimating what your payout might be and recommending legal steps to strive toward this outcome.

Factors Affecting the Value of a PFAS Lawsuit

Some of the factors that can impact what you qualify for include the type and severity of your PFAS-related condition and how it has impacted your life. For example, someone who has terminal cancer or whose loved one died because of the PFAS in their water may be entitled to a higher payout. Moreover, filing your claim within the required deadline increases the odds that you will receive higher compensation than if you file it later.

Learn More About PFAS Lawsuits From Our Legal Team

People across the United States are learning that the forever chemicals in their drinking water have been put there by companies that knew better, could have easily done better, but took the easy way out. Millions of Americans have been put in harm’s way through no fault of their own, and they are fighting back. 

If you developed cancer or a disease because of the forever chemicals in your water, you may be entitled to compensation. Our legal partners are investigating claims against companies who dumped PFAS into the environment and poisoned the water. Reach out to us today to set up a free case review with a qualified legal advocate.