Wausau Takes Legal Action Against Manufacturers of PFAS Chemicals

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 -- 8:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) The City of Wausau has officially taken legal action against known manufacturers of forever chemicals, or PFAS, according to Mike Leischner with WSAU.

“Local government taxpayers and water district ratepayers should not be responsible for PFAS drinking water contamination. Those responsible, including relevant insurance companies, which have responsibility for public water system contamination should be accountable."

"The extent of the City of Wausau’s PFAS is well documented, and we will vigorously pursue justice for the city and its taxpayers,” said Paul J. Napoli, who will assist the city in the legal fight.

The lawsuit comes nearly two years after the City of Wausau announced that all of its drinking water wells had tested positive for elevated levels of PFAS. That led city leaders to re-design their new drinking water treatment plant to include a granular-activated carbon filtration system that would remove the chemicals to non-detectable levels.

Fifteen different manufacturing companies and 61 insurance companies are listed as defendants. That came at a cost of about $17 million, which led to a significant increase in the utility’s water rates for customers.

“The people of Wausau trusted that those corporations that earned billions of dollars creating products that were in nearly every household in America, were doing so without putting our community’s health and resources at risk,” said Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg in a press release.

“However, over the last two years, I’ve learned that every single one of Wausau’s drinking water wells was and is contaminated with PFAS. Wausau residents and policymakers rallied to ensure that every Wausau Waterworks customer can trust what is coming out of their tap, but it came at great public expense. Today we are demanding that those responsible for the contamination are held accountable to the people of Wausau.”

Mayor Rosenberg has previously told WSAU News that she wants to hold manufacturing companies accountable for the PFAS contamination as much as possible. The city has already received a portion of a $10.3 billion settlement with 3M for PFAS testing and mitigation for municipalities across the country.

PFAS chemicals can build up in the body over time, leading to health issues such as high cholesterol and certain cancers. The most common way they enter the body is through drinking water.

New York-based law firm Napoli Shkolnik will represent the city in the suit. They specialize in environmental litigation such as cases involving hazardous substances. No further court action was immediately announced.

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