Water From Emergency Relief Tanks Sent To Disaster Areas Had PFAS In It

Water Contamination Lawsuit News

Tests show that portable water tanks used for disaster response are contaminated with PFAS, which raises fresh worries about public safety during calamities

Friday, June 20, 2025 - Tests done recently have found per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) in emergency drinking water tanks that were sent to areas of the United States that were hit by disasters. This is a worrying discovery. When public water systems are damaged by hurricanes, wildfires, or floods, these mobile water systems are sent by relief agencies to supply safe drinking water. But tests done in a lab show that some of these portable water tanks include measurable amounts of PFAS, which raises big questions about how safe emergency water supplies are for people who are already at risk. PFAS, often known as "forever chemicals," are compounds that stay in the environment for a long time and are associated to many health problems, such as cancer, reproductive harm, liver damage, and problems with the immune system. People are now looking closely at how relief organizations and government agencies buy things and how they make sure they are of good quality. As news of PFAS contamination in disaster relief supplies spreads, some people who have been harmed have started to contact PFAS in drinking water lawyer teams to find out what their legal options are. If suppliers or manufacturers of storage systems are found to be responsible for PFAS contamination in relief water, lawsuits may shortly be filed against them for exposing disaster victims to more health risks during emergencies.

A report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in 2025 said that PFAS contamination was found in a number of portable tanks kept at regional emergency response depots. Investigations suggest that the contamination may come from a number of places, such as PFAS-laden materials used to make flexible tank liners, old firefighting foam left over from previous disaster deployments, or dirty water sources used to fill the tanks before they were shipped. Adding to the dilemma, most relief organizations have only looked at bacterial and heavy metal tests to see if water is safe in disaster areas, and they have often missed new chemical pollutants like PFAS. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is decreasing its enforceable PFAS standards in drinking water to almost zero levels in 2024. This means that disaster response groups now have to examine all emergency water supplies more strictly. Advocates for public health say that people who have been through a disaster, like children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems, are especially at risk for PFAS exposure because their health is already at danger during disasters. In response, a number of states have begun independent audits of their emergency water supplies. At the same time, politicians have proposed laws that would require all federally and state-funded emergency water programs to screen for PFAS. Relief groups say they didn't know about the risks of PFAS in their equipment before, but they promise to be more careful in the future. However, lawyers warn that if those who drank tainted emergency water can show that it has long-term health repercussions, they may be able to sue both the government and commercial companies.

More Recent Federal Government Water Contamination Lawsuit News:


Let Our Water Contamination Attorneys Help You

Our attorneys specialize in holding large corporations accountable when they've placed profits ahead of safety. Through settlements and winning verdicts, our attorneys have obtained millions for our clients. Let us help you today.

Lawsuits for PFAS Contaminated Drinking Water

Filing a lawsuit will allow you to hold the federal government accountable for damage it has caused you or a loved one, while also providing real compensation for your medical expenses, suffering and loss. Contact us today for a free consultation.