Millions Awarded for PFAS Cleanup in Pittsboro, NC

Amidst an ongoing battle over PFAS contamination, the town of Pittsboro, North Carolina, will receive nearly $18 million to build two new drinking water treatment projects.

Experts have found high levels of PFAS in Pittsboro’s drinking water supply. In early February 2023, the town sued multiple chemical companies, alleging they are responsible for the contamination.

The funding for these new drinking water projects comes amidst ongoing efforts to mitigate PFAS pollution of the town’s water supply and is just a portion of nearly $500 million that North Carolina will receive for water infrastructure projects across the state.

Statewide, North Carolina has 150% more to invest in water infrastructure projects over the next two years compared to typical cycles in part due to funding from federal infrastructure and COVID-19 relief legislation passed in 2021.

What are PFAS Chemicals? 

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a broad category of compounds that have become known as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to break down in the environment. These chemicals are known to accumulate over time, including in human bodies, and they are also known to cause cancer.

PFAS chemicals are very common, used in everyday products like cleaning liquids, nonstick cookware, and cosmetics. In recent years, North Carolina has become a focal point for investigations into larger-scale PFAS contamination, particularly along the Cape Fear and Haw Rivers.

Riddle & Brantley lawyers are actively engaged in PFAS lawsuits and our firm has spent nearly 40 years holding negligent manufacturers accountable. If you believe you have been exposed to PFAS, either due to product or industrial exposure, and you suffered from kidney, testicular or another qualifying cancer, you may be entitled to compensation.

For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced PFAS lawyers, call 1-800-525-7111 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Case reviews are always free, and you don’t pay any attorney fees unless you recover compensation for your injuries.

PFAS Contamination in Pittsboro

In 2017, the Wilmington Star-News broke a story about PFAS contamination along the Cape Fear River, attributed to a Fayetteville plant operated by the Chemours Company, an offshoot of DuPont.

Nearly a decade earlier, the EPA published a study on PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River basin. Results from the study showed the highest concentrations of PFAS were upstream of the Fayetteville Chemours plant, suggesting that the problem may be more widespread and communities along the Haw River, which feeds into the Cape Fear River, were also at risk.

In the years since, PFAS contamination has been linked to several industrial facilities along the Haw River basin, including other DuPont facilities and several Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) manufacturers.

A more recent Duke University study found that PFAS levels in Pittsboro residents were among the highest in the country, two to four times higher than the general population. That study includes an ongoing effort to monitor PFAS levels in Pittsboro residents and their water supply.

PFAS Lawsuits Filed by the Town of Pittsboro

The Town of Pittsboro’s board of commissioners voted to sue several PFAS manufacturers during its Jan. 23, 2023, meeting. These manufacturers include 3M, DuPont, the Chemours Company, and Tyco Fire Products LP.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants continued manufacturing and distributing PFAS products in the Haw River watershed, despite knowledge that ordinary use and disposal would result in significant water contamination.

Pittsboro is seeking reimbursement for all expenses related to reducing PFAS in drinking water. The town is also seeking loss of use and degradation of natural resources damages as well as additional punitive damages if defendants are found to have acted with intent.

At minimum, these damages would include reimbursement for Pittsboro’s $3.5 million water filtration plant installed to help remove PFAS from the town’s water supply.

“What Can I Do if I Think I’m at Risk for PFAS Contamination?”

As scientists learn more about PFAS – both the risks associated with these chemicals and the ways that people are exposed – lawsuits like the one in Pittsboro will continue to be filed across the country.

If you believe you were exposed to PFAS and later received a cancer diagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation, potentially including damages for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

Riddle & Brantley’s experienced PFAS lawyers believe Justice Counts and are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call 1-800-525-7111 today for a FREE, no-obligation case review to learn more about your options. We will review your claim, and because we work on a contingency basis, you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.