City of Tucson files lawsuit against federal government over water contamination

By Conor McGill | KVOA | December 13, 2024

Read the full article by Conor McGill (KVOA)

"The City of Tucson has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging negligence by the U.S. Air Force has caused widespread contamination of the city’s drinking water with harmful "forever chemicals."

The legal action targets the Department of Defense and demands accountability for the pollution and financial assistance for implementing treatment solutions.

At the heart of the lawsuit are PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often called "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to breaking down in the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends safe PFAS levels between 4 and 10 parts per trillion (ppt). However, tests in Tucson reveal PFAS levels nearly nine times higher than these guidelines."