Municipalities and individuals living near military bases are discovering that their water supplies have been contaminated by use of firefighting foam that contains chemicals causing life-threatening illnesses. Earlier this summer it was reported the EPA attempted to cover up a study regarding hazardous perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in America’s drinking water. Firefighting foam containing PFCs has contaminated water across the country, and in our own backyards. While some contaminants can cause water to change colors or cause various odors, alerting individuals drinking the water of the potential contamination, PFCs cannot be seen or tasted. Residents in parts of Bucks and Montgomery counties have come to learn over the last few years that they have unknowingly been drinking and using water with these invisible but potentially deadly PFCs. The questions that residents and local governments face is who is to blame and who can be held accountable for this serious threat to public health.

Tens of thousands of residents right outside of Philadelphia in Warminster, Warrington and Horsham have had their drinking water directly impacted by PFCs. Some local residents have sought recourse by filing lawsuits in Bucks and Montgomery counties for the physical injuries and illnesses they have suffered as a result of unknowingly drinking and using PFC-contaminated water. A class action lawsuit has also been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of local residents seeking medical monitoring and damages for declines in property value.