Pennsylvania Family Sues Navy for Contaminated Water

A Pennsylvania family has sued the U.S. Navy over claims that it contaminated the drinking water and caused a human health hazard in the area, according to a press release from the attorneys representing the family.

The Giovanni family lives about 300 yards from the Navy's former Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Warrington.

Their lawsuit seeks relief for medical and environmental damages incurred by the high levels of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) in the drinking water, which was likely the result of firefighting foams leaching into the groundwater. The Air Force recently decided to change its firefighting foam, discontinuing the usage of PFOA and PFOS-laden foam.

"The mission of the U.S. Navy is to protect the American people," says attorney Mark Cuker of Williams Cuker Berezofsky, the Philadelphia law firm representing the family. "We're calling on the Navy to provide blood testing and medical monitoring to protect these citizens from the dangers of this toxic exposure."

The lawsuit demands that the Navy provide biomonitoring of the environment and a full health assessment to determine the impact of the contamination on the local community.

The water crisis has affected Warrington, Warminster and Horsham townships.

A recent federal study found no evidence of a "cancer cluster" in the area.

Patch file photo