Town plans to sue manufacturers behind water contaminants

Last week, local and federal elected officials and environmental advocates asked the Environmental Protection Agency to set stricter standards regarding the maximum contamination levels and remediation of PFOA and 1,4 dioxane in drinking water.

On Wednesday, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen announced her plan to sue the manufacturers responsible for polluting the town’s water with these contaminants in order to fund remediation efforts.

Both chemicals are considered “likely carcinogenic” by the EPA and are, respectively, used to produce nonstick cookware like Teflon and in household products like detergents and shampoos.

A recent report from the New York Public Interest Research Group concluded that Long Island’s drinking water had the highest traces of both chemicals in all of New York State.

“Our residents have a few expectations when it comes to their drinking water,” Gillen said at a news conference at the Town of Hempstead Water Department in East Meadow. “They expect that water suppliers will provide and maintain clean and safe drinking water. And they expect that the government will alert them when there are water quality issues.”

According to Gillen, it could take three years and cost roughly $40 million for the town to construct a treatment system to remove the chemicals. The town is requesting state funding to help defer some of the cost and, she added, is looking to avoid placing the burden on town taxpayers.

“The cost for cleaning up these harmful contaminants should be placed on the shoulders of the chemical manufacturing companies that have profited for decades off these likely carcinogenic chemicals,” she said.

Joining Gillen at the news conference was local activist Adrianne Esposito, the director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which has been a long follower of this issue.

“It is their chemicals that have threatened our health,” she said, referring to the manufacturers. “And it is their chemicals that are now threatening our economic stability of the cost of water. Therefore it is their responsibility to pay the bill.”

One roadblock in their pursuit of legal action is the statute of limitations set on a lawsuit against a company responsible for water pollution. According to state law, such litigation must take place within three years of finding the contaminants.

However, PFOA and 1,4 dioxane are only now being cited as harmful, Gillen said. Therefore, she is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign into law a bill that would clarify the statue of limitations and allow the town to go forward with legal action.