PFAS and Toxic Water Contamination: If You Drank the Water, You May Have a Claim.
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
They are called forever chemicals because they do not break down. Not in the environment. Not in your body. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, have been used in manufacturing, firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, and industrial processes for decades.
They have also been seeping into water supplies across the United States for just as long. Near military bases. Near airports. Near manufacturing plants. Near communities where people drank from the tap every day and had no idea what was in it.
The lawsuits are now catching up to decades of contamination. If you lived, worked, or served near a PFAS-contaminated site and developed cancer or another serious illness, you may have a claim that is worth pursuing.
What Are PFAS and Why Are They Dangerous
PFAS is a family of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in products designed to resist heat, water, and oil. You have encountered them in:
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), the firefighting foam used extensively by the military and at airports
Nonstick cookware coatings
Stain-resistant carpet and fabric treatments
Food packaging
Industrial manufacturing processes
The problem is that PFAS do not degrade. When they enter the soil or water supply, they stay. When humans are exposed to them through drinking water, they accumulate in the body over time. Scientific research has linked prolonged PFAS exposure to:
Kidney cancer
Testicular cancer
Bladder cancer
Thyroid disease
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Ulcerative colitis
High cholesterol
Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia
The EPA has stated there is no safe level of exposure to certain PFAS compounds. These are not theoretical risks. They are documented carcinogens that were present in the water supplies of communities across the country, sometimes for decades.
Camp Lejeune: The Most Well-Known Toxic Water Case
Camp Lejeune is the most prominent example of military base water contamination in U.S. legal history, but it is not the only one.
From 1953 to 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, was contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride, all classified as carcinogens. Approximately 750,000 people lived, worked, or served at the base during that period. Pregnant women exposed to the water gave birth to children with birth defects. Veterans developed cancers decades later and only recently learned the cause.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, passed in 2022, gave those affected the right to sue the U.S. government for the first time. As of 2026:
More than 400,000 administrative claims have been filed.
The Department of Justice has paid over $421 million to claimants through its elective option program.
Over 3,600 individual lawsuits have been filed in federal court.
Settlements through the elective option program have ranged from $100,000 to $450,000 for qualifying claimants.
The challenge is that the government's faster settlement program, called the Elective Option, covers only a fraction of total claimants, and attorneys say the Navy is using documentation requirements to delay legitimate claims.
PFAS Contamination Beyond Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune is the most litigated, but PFAS contamination is a national problem affecting civilian communities, not just military personnel.
Sources of civilian PFAS contamination include:
Military bases and training facilities where AFFF firefighting foam was used. Hundreds of bases across the United States have documented PFAS contamination in surrounding groundwater.
Industrial facilities where PFAS compounds were manufactured or heavily used. Communities near DuPont, 3M, and similar manufacturers have documented contamination and active litigation.
Airports where AFFF foam was used in training exercises and emergencies.
Municipal water systems that drew from contaminated groundwater sources.
If your community's water supply has been flagged for PFAS contamination and you developed a qualifying illness, your claim does not require a military connection. Civilian PFAS cases are active and growing.
Who May Qualify
For Camp Lejeune specifically:
You lived, worked, or served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 for at least 30 days.
You developed cancer, Parkinson's disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or another qualifying condition.
Family members of those who were stationed at Lejeune, including children born on base during that period, may also qualify.
For PFAS contamination more broadly:
You lived near a military base, airport, or industrial site with documented PFAS contamination.
You used a contaminated municipal water supply for a significant period of time.
You developed kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, bladder cancer, or another PFAS-linked condition.
You do not need to prove you knew about the contamination at the time. The harm happened regardless of your awareness of it.
What Compensation May Look Like
PFAS and Camp Lejeune claims are evaluated individually based on:
The severity and nature of your diagnosis
The duration and degree of your documented exposure
Medical costs, lost income, and quality of life impact
Whether your case qualifies for the faster elective settlement option or proceeds through litigation
Camp Lejeune elective option settlements have ranged from $100,000 to $450,000 for processed claims. The broader Camp Lejeune litigation is projected to cost the government over $163 billion across all claimants, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.
Civilian PFAS litigation against manufacturers like 3M and DuPont is also active. 3M reached a landmark settlement exceeding $10 billion with public water utilities in 2023, and litigation against individual manufacturers continues.
The Filing Window Is Finite
Camp Lejeune claims had a specific administrative filing deadline. If you were eligible and did not file administratively, speak with an attorney immediately about your current options. The litigation window for active lawsuits remains open in federal court.
Civilian PFAS claims are governed by state statutes of limitations that vary by state. In most states, the clock begins when you knew or should have known about the contamination and the connection to your illness. Do not wait to confirm your timeline with an attorney.
If you served at Camp Lejeune, lived near a contaminated base, or drew water from a known PFAS-affected supply and developed a serious illness, your claim may be more time-sensitive than you realize.
Get a Free Case Review
We Win Suits reviews toxic water and PFAS contamination claims at no cost. Whether your exposure was military, civilian, or both, our team will evaluate your situation and tell you honestly what your options are.
No fees until we win. No obligation to start. Visit wewinsuits.com to begin your free case review.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are PFAS chemicals and why are they in the news?
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in firefighting foam, nonstick coatings, and industrial products. They do not break down in the environment or the human body, and prolonged exposure has been linked to several cancers and serious health conditions. Contaminated water supplies near military bases, airports, and industrial sites have exposed millions of people across the United States.
Who qualifies for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
People who lived, worked, or served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987 and developed a qualifying condition such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma may qualify. Family members, including children born on base, may also have claims. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act opened the right to sue the U.S. government for these harms.
Do I have to be a veteran to file a PFAS contamination lawsuit?
No. Civilian communities near military bases, airports, and manufacturing facilities with documented PFAS contamination also have active litigation. If you lived near a contaminated site and developed a qualifying illness, you may have a claim regardless of military service.
How much can I receive from a PFAS or Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
Camp Lejeune elective option settlements have ranged from $100,000 to $450,000 for processed claims. Litigation-track cases may result in higher recovery depending on the severity of your diagnosis and evidence of exposure. Civilian PFAS litigation against manufacturers is ongoing with significant settlement funds being established.
Is it too late to file a Camp Lejeune claim?
If you missed the administrative filing deadline, contact an attorney immediately to evaluate your current options. Lawsuits in federal court remain active. Do not assume your window has closed without speaking to an attorney who handles these cases specifically.
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