Johnson County, Texas, officials have declared a state of disaster after a recently released report found that local water sources had been badly contaminated by PFAS or “forever chemicals.” PFAS (per/polyfluoroalkyl substances) are completely man-made, take an incalculably long time to break down, and have been linked to various severe and chronic health conditions. The report said that well water in the county had “tested positive for PFAS at levels several hundred times higher than the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) safe drinking water limits.”
A local environmental crime investigator, Dana Ames, told Johnson County residents during a townhall meeting that the results were “absolutely shocking.” It was also revealed that fish and cattle deaths in the region had been linked to PFAS contamination, which was part of the reason why officials declared a state of disaster. Governor Abbott’s office explained that it would first determine if the PFAS water contamination situation qualified as a disaster that warranted the declaration.
Researchers are confident that the PFAS contamination that has seeped into well water sources originates from the use of biosolid fertilizers applied on crops and fields in the area. Over time, PFAS used on the crops will leach into the soil and the water supply; it can also contaminate water sources if manufacturing byproducts or consumer products containing PFAS are improperly disposed of, such as being discarded into a lake, river, or dumpsite. The wastewater treatment plant of Fort Worth, just north of Johnson County, also reported high levels of PFAS in tested samples, possibly suggesting that the water contamination spread there, too.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality responded to the alarming report by saying that the use of biosolid fertilizers—the same that were believed to have caused the PFAS contamination in Johnson County’s well water—still had its approval. Local officials have also urged Governor Abbot to approve the disaster declaration to release funding to affected residents who might now be unable to use their well water for any purpose at the risk of developing cancer, Leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkison’s disease, and other severe health conditions.
Do You Live in Johnson County, Texas? Talk to a PFAS Lawyer Now
While government officials decide what to do about the PFAS water contamination that has been reported in Johnson County, Texas, residents can take action themselves by speaking to an attorney. At Hilliard Law, our PFAS attorneys are available to speak with anyone from Johnson County who might have been exposed to PFAS due to groundwater contamination. Our Texas trial lawyers have been standing up for the wrongfully injured and against major corporations and government entities for nearly 40 years, including in cases involving environmental disasters like PFAS contamination. Depending on how the situation in Johnson County develops, you could have the grounds to demand compensation and justice after you and your family were exposed to PFAS, and we’d be honored to be the legal team that helps you fight for it.
Call (866) 927-3420 to request a FREE case review with our Texas PFAS attorneys.