What You Need to Know to File a Contaminated Water Lawsuit in 2024
If you think you or your loved one have developed an illness or health condition because of polluted water, filing a contaminated water lawsuit is your best option in getting full compensation.
Water contamination cases arise due to various reasons. However, victims of water contamination often find out about it once they are diagnosed with ailments or when they give birth to a child with defects. There are even cases when residents of an area notice that many people in the neighborhood suffer from the same illness. Only then will they discover that a corporation has been dumping toxic materials into their water.
You might feel that suing water companies for contaminated water is an action that’s a little too late. Be that as it may, you should never let fear discourage you. Just think about the damage water contamination has caused you and your loved ones. And imagine all the people you will be able to save from contaminated water exposure if you speak out and fight for what’s right.
Effects of contaminated water exposure
Perchloroethylene (PCE) or trichloroethylene (TCE) are two of the most common chemicals in contaminated groundwater. There is evidence of a link between extended exposure to PCE or TCE and serious and often fatal diseases. Some of these diseases include:
- Congenital disabilities.
- Breast cancer.
- Bladder cancer.
- Cervical cancer.
- Leukemia.
- Liver cancer.
- Liver disease.
- Lung cancer.
- Miscarriages.
- Ovarian cancer.
- Prostate cancer.
- Kidney cancer.
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The Safe Drinking Water Act
The Federal Government regulates and protects the public drinking water through the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law was first enacted in 1974 and covers water from public sources, such as rivers, lakes, springs, and groundwater wells. However, it does not cover private wells that provide water to fewer than 25 people.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets national standards for drinking water that include maximum legal limits on more than 90 contaminants. In addition, the EPA also requires water authorities to perform certain tests for contaminants to assure the standards are achieved and dictates how contaminants should be removed.
Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main causes of waterborne disease outbreaks are:
- Campylobacter.
- Copper.
- Cryptosporidium.
- E. coli and excessive fluoride (tie).
- Giardia.
- Legionella.
- Norovirus.
- Shigella.
- Salmonella.
- Hepatitis A.
These contaminants can lead to severe illnesses, such as gastrointestinal upset, neurological problems, and reproductive issues. They are even more dangerous to children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
There have also been reports of pharmaceutical drugs in the water supply. Fortunately, the concentrations of these drugs are extremely low and unlikely to cause any considerable health effects, according to a 2012 study by the World Health Organization.
Nonetheless, filing a contaminated water lawsuit claim can help you get compensation for your injuries and losses.
Signs of contaminated water
Based on water contamination cases in 2022, here are the red flags that your water is contaminated
1. The water looks cloudy or milky:
Your tap water should always be clear. If it looks cloudy or milky, allow it to settle down for a few minutes to see if it clears up. If it does, your water might have just contained trapped air bubbles. However, if it stays cloudy or foamy, your water could contain elevated levels of heavy minerals or something worse. In such water contamination cases, it’s time to get your water tested.
2. Your water smells strange:
If it has an unusual smell, it could be contaminated, but oftentimes contaminants have no odor. A strong rotten egg smell can indicate that your water contains high levels of sulfur. This is usually not dangerous, but it can be unappetizing. Likewise, if your water tastes like swimming pool water, it may contain high levels of chlorine. A water filter may help eliminate excess chlorine and sulfur.
3. Your water has an unusual taste:
Frequently, contaminants have no taste. But in some cases, you might experience some unusual taste in your water. Some victims of water contamination said that their water tasted strange, smelled terrible, and had a brownish color.
What are your legal rights?
Water contamination is a serious offense with severe, long-lasting consequences for victims. If you have reason to believe that your illness is due to a malicious or negligent act of a water company, hiring the top attorney to sue water company will help you get a fair settlement for your claim. A trusted and knowledgeable Pennsylvania attorney will evaluate your medical and complex legal situation to fight for your claim.
Here are some factors that are involved in evaluating a case:
- Date of your diagnosis.
- Type of disease or illness you have.
- Length and method of your exposure.
- Level of toxicity of your water.
- Companies and individuals who may be responsible.
- Potential damages are entitled to you.
In February 2022, the federal judge approved a contaminated water lawsuit settlement in the amount of $65 million in a class-action lawsuit. Three companies were sued over chemical contamination of the water supply in upstate New York.
Ways to help keep your drinking water safe.
Here are a few tips to help you keep your water supply safe.
Do’s
- Use paver stones, gravel, and other porous materials to stop the flow of stormwater around your home before it pours into storm drains.
- Clean up after your pet. Pet waste – as with any waste – is laden with bacteria. It can easily contaminate storm drains and water supplies. Therefore, it’s better to pick up the poop in a recycled bag and put it in the bin.
- When your car leaks oil, coolant, and other fluids, rainwater takes it right into the groundwater. Thus, you should always keep your car in good condition by washing it in a commercial car wash. It’s better than discharging polluted water down your driveway.
- Reducing your use of harmful chemicals can also go a long way. Therefore, choose non-toxic cleaners and pesticides whenever possible, and choose phosphate-free detergents.
Don’t
- Don’t flush tampons, baby wipes, and other non-biodegradable products. In addition, avoid flushing old prescription medications and take them to a prescription drug drop-off point instead.
- Never dump paint, oil, or other household chemicals down the drain. The same goes for fat, oil, and cooking grease. Instead, keep these wastes in a jar under the sink and dispose of the jar in the garbage when it gets full.
contaminated water attorney
The state is responsible for implementing the federal safety standards. Therefore, people who have been injured through exposure to contaminated water can take action under appropriate state law to recover for the expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages of the victims. However, if egregious corporate acts caused the water contamination, the plaintiff is also entitled to punitive damages.
If you and your neighbors live near a refinery or an industrial site and suffer from serious illnesses that you believe may be linked to water pollution, you should consult an experienced contaminated water attorney as soon as you can.
What are you waiting for? Contact Ethen Ostroff Law now at 610-510-8883 ( by calling this number, you consent to receive SMS updates from Ethen Ostroff Law) or Submit Form to get free consultation.
