"Maryland’s largest water utility filed a lawsuit against more than a dozen companies Friday, alleging that they knowingly polluted the water supply with “forever chemicals” and saying that they should bear the burden of upgrading systems to remove these toxic substances.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), which serves nearly 1.9 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, sued companies, including 3M and DuPont de Nemours, that allegedly manufacture fire-suppression foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as “forever chemicals.” These foams are deployed to fight fires, then find their way into the water supply. Studies have linked PFAS to infertility, thyroid problems and cancer.
In a statement, WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell said that “significant costs to upgrade our facilities should not be passed on to our customers.”"
Justin Wm. Moyer reports for the Washington Post August 8, 2023.