Camden City and Four Others Sue For PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water Supplies

Camden City, Middlesex Water Company, Hopatcong Borough, Pequannock Township and Point Pleasant Borough, have filed suit in the US District Court in the District of South Carolina, where these nationwide lawsuits are venued, against 3M Company, Dupont and 15 other corporations to recover “the substantial costs necessary to protect and restore certain of its drinking water supply wells, which are contaminated with synthetic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( “PFAS”). The contamination exceeds New Jersey’s maximum contamination levels (“MCL”) established by the Drinking Water Quality Institute.

Some of the products with PFAS include Teflon, Scotchguard, waxes, packaging coatings and firefighting foam. The Complaints allege that some of the defendants, like Dupont and 3M, were “fully aware that it was manufacturing dangerous and toxic chemicals for decades.

The Complaints ask for a judgement requiring the defendants to “pay all damages including cleanup, abatement, remediation and monitoring costs and punitive damages.

The team of plaintiffs attorneys includes former New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak who championed many environmental causes in the legislature including the Safe Drinking Water Act which imposed the maximum contamination levels alleged to be violated by the defendants.