Federal court orders Chemours to stop PFAS discharge from West Virginia facility

By Sara Samora | Manufacturing Drive | August 20, 2025

Read the full article by Sara Samora (Manufacturing Drive)

"A federal judge has ordered The Chemours Co. to stop releasing PFAS chemical waste into the Ohio River from its Washington Works manufacturing facility in Wood County, West Virginia, according to court documents filed Aug. 7.

The ruling is a response to a request filed by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition in February. The environmental nonprofit has asked the federal court to intervene and order Chemours to stop releasing the harmful “forever chemicals” waste, notably hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt (GenX), saying it could jeopardize public drinking water sources.

HFPO-DA and GenX are used in the manufacturing process of fluoropolymers, according to the Chemours website. DuPont de Nemours developed the fluorochemicals in 2009 as part of a U.S. EPA program to phase out perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, as part of the agency’s efforts to address the impact on public health and natural resources."