PFAS Lawsuit Claims Illinois American Water Company Supplied Water Contaminated with ‘Forever Chemicals’

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Illinois American Water Company has supplied hundreds of thousands of consumers in the state with drinking water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemicals linked to a host of serious health risks.

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The 13-page PFAS lawsuit claims that Illinois American Water Company (IAWC), a private, investor-owned operation, has falsely represented that its water supply is fit for ordinary use, given that the water is allegedly contaminated with PFAS, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, immune system suppression, thyroid and hormonal disruption, liver toxicity, developmental and reproductive harm, increased cholesterol, and pregnancy complications.

Per the suit, PFAS are used in various industrial processes, non-stick coatings, waterproofing products, and numerous other applications. The lawsuit says that PFAS levels in IAWC systems exceed levels public health authorities would consider safe in regions across Illinois, including St. Clair County. 

The filing conveys that PFAS are particularly dangerous because they are “extremely persistent” in both the human body and the environment. The suit shares that PFAS gradually accumulate in water, soil, wildlife, and human blood, and the longevity and persistence of the substances have earned them the moniker “forever chemicals.”

The complaint says that the United States Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that PFAS pose a significant health risk even in “extremely low” concentrations.

The case claims that IAWC was aware of the risk of PFAS contamination but failed to conduct adequate testing and filtration. The lawsuit charges that consumers were not even warned of the alleged contamination, nor provided with a safe alternative water source.

Damages incurred by proposed class members include overpayment for contaminated water and the costs of buying bottled water and filtration systems, medical monitoring, and more, the filing adds.

The Illinois American Water Company class action lawsuit looks to cover all Illinois residents who purchased water from Illinois American Water Company during the class period, defined as the four years prior to the filing date of the complaint to the present.

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