Port Washington Water District Among 3 Suing 3M, DuPont, Chemours

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Port Washington's water provider is suing 3M, DuPont and Chemours over what it calls "damaged drinking water supply wells" contaminated with man-made chemicals that are tied to cancer and mental development problems in children.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 9 in federal district court, accused 3M Company, Dyneon DuPont de Nemouers and The Chemours Company of making, promoting and selling goods containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. This includes perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS.

The health effects of such chemicals have been the subject of studies and some of have shown that PFAS exposure can lead to changes in growth, learning, and behavior of babies and older children, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes on its website. The chemicals can also lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, interfere with the body’s natural hormones, increase cholesterol levels, affect the immune system and even increase the risk of cancer.

"PFAS are toxic, not easily biodegradable, persistent in the environment, and pose a significant risk to human health and safety," the lawsuit said.

The companies knew or should have known that the chemicals are highly soluble in water, extremely mobile, persistent, and "very likely to contaminate" surface and groundwater, the water district said. This includes drinking water supplies.

The district seeks compensatory damages and all other remedies, such as money needed to cover the cost of building, installing and operating treatment facilities and other equipment needed to remove PFAS from drinking water wells.

PFOA was detected in nearly all the district’s wells sampled between 2017 and 2019, the lawsuit said. The wells are contaminated with or threatened by chemicals spreading throughout the aquifer system, which is where residents' drinking water originates.

The Village of Mineola and the Carle Place water district filed similar lawsuits, Newsday reported.

A 3M spokeswoman told Patch in a statement Tuesday that 3M "acted responsibly" in connection with products containing PFAS. The company plans to "vigorously defend its record of environmental stewardship," the statement said.

Messages seeking comment from the other companies weren't immediately returned.