Can You Sue for Contaminated Water?

Yes, it may be possible to sue for contaminated water-caused harm. Eligibility depends on several legal and factual factors. These include the contamination source and the laws that apply.

If exposure causes illness and there is evidence linking it to a responsible party, you might have a case. Potential compensation may cover medical costs, lost wages, and other related damages.

Read on if you want to understand more about suing for contaminated water.

Table of Contents

Understanding Water Contamination Lawsuits

Many people assume their water is safe. It’s unfortunate that contamination happens more often than you might realize. Polluted water can lead to serious health problems, property damage, and financial strain. Legal action can sometimes help those affected recover costs and hold responsible parties accountable.

Who Can File a Contaminated Water Lawsuit?

Anyone affected by contaminated water may have legal recourse. Those harmed can include individuals, families, businesses, and more. To pursue a lawsuit, you must demonstrate that the contaminated water resulted in actual harm. This harm can encompass health issues, property damage, or financial losses. For example:

• Residents exposed to toxic water for a prolonged period
• Homeowners facing property damage due to pollutants
• Families dealing with health issues caused by waterborne toxins
• Businesses that lost revenue because of unsafe water supplies

Each situation is different. The strength of a claim depends on the source of contamination, its impact, and the parties involved.

Legal Grounds for Suing Over Contaminated Water

Water contamination lawsuits are based on specific legal principles that hold polluters accountable. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is one of the key laws protecting public water systems. Passed in 1974, this law gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to establish national water quality standards and enforce regulations to prevent contamination. Despite these protections, violations still occur, leading to legal action.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

When toxic water leads to serious health problems, victims may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. A significant worry is PFAS, which stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. These are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” Studies have linked PFAS exposure to several health conditions, including:

• High cholesterol
• Thyroid disease
• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Ulcerative colitis

If PFAS-contaminated water has caused harm, you may have legal options to seek compensation. Possible damages include medical costs, lost wages, and other expenses based on your case details.

Property Damage Claims

Water contamination can ruin property values, corrode plumbing systems, make land unusable, and more. When this happens, homeowners and businesses can sometimes take legal action.

Common property damage claims include:

• Toxic water lowers home values
• Polluted groundwater harming farmland
• Damage to plumbing systems from corrosive contaminants

Landowners and polluters may be liable for property damage if there is evidence linking the contamination to their actions, negligence, or regulatory violations.

Class Action Lawsuits

When entire groups, such as neighborhoods, deal with contaminated water, filing individual lawsuits may not be practical. A class action allows multiple victims with similar claims to file a lawsuit against the same defendant as a group. However, courts must first evaluate whether the case meets specific legal criteria for class certification, such as common legal issues and sufficient representation. If class certification is not granted, individual lawsuits may be required.

Hypothetical examples of class action cases include:

• Large-scale PFAS contamination from factories
• Lead exposure impacting a whole water system
• Large-scale illnesses from bacteria or industrial waste leaks

This is an example of a recent class action lawsuit against 3M, Corteva, and Chemours regarding water contamination caused by PFAS in carpets.

Identifying The Responsible Party

Water contamination can sometimes be traced to human actions, regulatory violations, or other responsible factors. Typically, someone is responsible for ensuring water is both safe and clean. If contamination occurs, it may result from failure to follow regulations, negligence, or other contributing factors. Some parties that may commonly bear responsibility include:

• Water companies
• Local governments
• Product companies
• Landlords

Can You Sue the Water Company for Contaminated Water?

Yes, you can sometimes sue a water company for contaminated water. Liability may apply if there is evidence that the company failed to address known risks, violated safety regulations, or neglected to fix contamination issues, resulting in harm.

Can You Sue a City for Contaminated Water?

Yes, a city may be liable for water contamination, but sovereign immunity and other legal defenses can limit or bar certain claims. Liability depends on factors such as regulatory violations, negligence, and exceptions to government immunity laws.

Can I Sue My Landlord for Contaminated Water?

Yes, you may be able to sue your landlord if they are aware of contaminated water issues. For example, they could be held liable if they ignore tenant complaints. This could also include not fixing known water problems or not meeting health and safety standards. Any harm caused may lead to responsibility.

Proving Your Case: Evidence & Legal Requirements

To win a contaminated water lawsuit, you must prove three things:

• The water was unsafe
• Harm was caused
• A responsible party was at fault

Evidence like water tests, medical records, and expert analysis can support your claim.

How to Prove Contaminated Water Caused Your Illness

If you suspect contaminated water made you sick, you’ll need evidence to support your claim. This usually includes medical records, lab reports, and water quality tests that link your condition to exposure.

Medical Documentation & Diagnosis

Medical records prove that contaminated water led to your medical condition. A medical diagnosis can strengthen your claim. It documents health conditions that may be caused by water contamination.

Doctors can also diagnose bacterial infections linked to diseases from contaminated water. A written medical opinion connecting your illness to unsafe water can be key evidence in a lawsuit.

However, scientific evidence and expert testimony must also establish legal causation.

Water Testing & Contamination Reports

Showing definitive water contamination is as vital as proving illness. Even if the water appears safe, harmful toxins may be present.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a health advisory limit for PFAS (PFOA & PFOS) at 70 parts per trillion. If your water exceeds this level, it could be dangerous. You can read more about these limits directly from the EPA’s official PFAS Technical Fact Sheet.

If you suspect contamination, consider getting your water tested. Certified lab results showing increased levels of toxins may be supporting evidence in legal claims. However, you usually need even more proof than that. Medical records and expert analysis are essential for showing liability and damages.

Common Contaminants That Lead to Lawsuits

Many substances can pollute drinking water, but some are especially dangerous. Due to their long-term health effects, these contaminants have been the focus of many lawsuits.

Lead Poisoning from Drinking Water

Lead in drinking water is hazardous, and young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Long-term exposure can also increase the risk of heart and kidney problems in adults. Long-term exposure can lead to:

• Cognitive and developmental issues in children
• Heart and kidney problems
• Neurological disorders

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is a known case of lead contamination. Officials changed the city’s water source but failed to treat it. This caused widespread lead poisoning and a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.

Studies confirm the crisis led to serious health problems. More details can be found in this study.

If your home is older, consider testing your water for lead.

Bacterial Contamination

Bacteria in drinking water can make you very sick. Symptoms often include diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and dehydration. Some of the most common waterborne bacteria include:

• E. coli – This can lead to diarrhea, stomach cramps, and kidney failure in severe cases.
• Legionella – This causes Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe lung infection spread through contaminated water systems. (For more information on Legionnaires from water contamination, see the study on the Flint water crisis above.)
• Salmonella – Can be found in untreated or poorly maintained water supplies.

Bacterial contamination often occurs when sewage leaks or water treatment systems fail. It can also happen when old plumbing allows harmful microbes into the water supply.

Chemical Exposure (PFAS, PFOA, Industrial Toxins, etc.)

PFAS chemicals are some of the most persistent and dangerous contaminants in water. Since the 1940s, these substances have appeared in many products. You can find them in nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, and stain-resistant fabrics.

PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” This is because they don’t break down easily in the environment. Instead, they accumulate in water, soil, and human bodies over time. Here are a few medical conditions exposure has been linked to:

• Kidney and testicular cancer
• Thyroid disease
• High cholesterol
• Liver damage

Learn more about PFAS contamination and its long-term effects here.

Compensation: What Is Your Case Worth?

You could have legal options if your water supply was contaminated and caused harm. Your options will depend on your case, though.

Compensation amounts depend on how badly you were affected, what medical costs you’ve faced, and what legal actions have been taken in similar cases.

Many victims seek damages for:

• Medical expenses (past and future treatments)
• Lost wages if illness prevented them from working
• Property damage (example: home value loss due to contamination)
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress

Some settlements have reached hundreds of millions of dollars, but every case differs.

How Much Is the Payout for Contaminated Water?

Compensation for contaminated water cases varies. Some large-scale cases have led to significant settlements, but results depend on individual case factors.

For example, the Flint, Michigan, water crisis exposed thousands of residents to lead-contaminated drinking water, resulting in a proposed $600 million settlement for those affected.

Disclaimer: Our firm didn’t handle this case. This info is for reference only. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.

Steps to Take If Your Water Is Contaminated

If you suspect your water is unsafe, act quickly to protect your health and document potential contamination.

What Can You Do If Your Water Is Contaminated?

Recognizing contamination signs and taking appropriate steps may help address potential risks.

Getting Your Water Tested

Water contamination isn’t always visible. However, signs like cloudiness, a sulfur smell, or a metallic taste can signal a problem. You can learn more about common signs of contamination here.

Testing is essential to confirm water contamination. Test strips, color disk kits, and hand-held digital instruments may help identify harmful substances in water. Learn more about testing water here.

Notifying Health Departments & Authorities

If your water test confirms contamination, report it to local health departments, the EPA, or the CDC. Public drinking water systems must comply with federal safety regulations, and reporting unsafe water may trigger investigations and corrective actions.

Seeking Legal Help & Filing a Claim

If exposure has led to illness or property damage, consulting a water contamination lawyer may be necessary. A lawyer can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, and pursue compensation from responsible parties.

Major Past Contaminated Water Lawsuits

Water contamination cases have led to lawsuits across the U.S., holding governments, corporations, and landlords accountable for failing to provide clean water.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits

Between 1953 and 1987, drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with toxic chemicals. Research has associated this contamination with cancers, leukemia, anemia, birth defects, and other severe health conditions.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows those affected to seek further legal compensation.

For more details on the health effects and legal rights, click here.

Disclaimer: Our firm didn’t handle this case. This info is for reference only. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.

Flint, Michigan Water Crisis Lawsuits

If you’ve heard of Flint, Michigan, you might know it for all the wrong reasons. What happened? There was a disaster that could have been entirely prevented.

In 2014, officials switched Flint’s water source to save money but failed to treat the water properly. People noticed the water smelled weird, looked dirty, and tasted terrible, but their complaints were ignored. It wasn’t until kids started getting sick, hair started falling out, and rashes appeared that the truth came out: the water was full of lead.

Residents waited several years for justice. Multiple lawsuits were filed, and eventually, Flint victims reached a $600 million settlement. As with any injury-related case, no money can reverse the damage already done.

PFAS and “Forever Chemicals” Litigation

Most people don’t think about what’s in their nonstick pans, water-resistant jackets, or stain-proof carpets… but maybe they should. Those products contain PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals,” because they usually take hundreds or thousands of years to break down.

That’s not an exaggeration. These chemicals are in the water, the soil, and the air, and they can stay there for thousands of years. Even worse, they build up in the human body, leading to cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, and immune disorders.

As research continues to expose the dangers, lawsuits are piling up. People who drank PFAS-contaminated water, especially those near factories, airports, and military bases, are pursuing legal action. They are suing the companies responsible for manufacturing and using these chemicals.

This is likely just the beginning. As more contamination sites come to light, additional PFAS-related lawsuits may emerge.

Military Bases

Some of the worst PFAS contamination sites in the country are on or near U.S. military bases.

Why? One reason is firefighting foam. For decades, the military used PFAS-laden foam to extinguish fires during training drills. The issue? That foam seeped into the ground, contaminating local water supplies. Some people who lived or worked near these bases during the contamination are now facing serious diseases. These include cancer, kidney disease, and other severe conditions.

Some service members, veterans, and families have pursued legal claims related to military base contamination. The outcome of these claims depends on case-specific factors, including evidence, legal arguments, and applicable laws.

Some military bases where contaminated water has been documented include:

• Fort Ord
• Camp Pendleton
• Cherry Point
• Fort Bragg

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Contaminated Water Lawsuit?

If you believe contaminated water has harmed you, consulting a lawyer can help you explore your legal options. An attorney can help protect your legal rights.

Water contamination cases require solid evidence, expert opinions, and a good grasp of environmental laws. These help prove liability and seek compensation.

Many large corporations, municipal governments, and property owners actively defend against negligence claims, so having strong evidence is essential. These cases often involve legal disputes and require strong supporting evidence. Proving your case requires medical records, water tests, and legal knowledge. These are resources that can be hard to manage on your own.

A lawyer can help by:

• Figuring out who’s responsible for the contamination
• Gathering the proper evidence to prove exposure and health effects
• Negotiating a settlement or taking your case to court

If you think contaminated water has harmed you, consulting an attorney can help determine whether you have a viable case. Many offer free case reviews so you can get answers before making decisions.

Take Action: Get a Free Case Review Today

If contaminated water has affected your health, property, or a loved one, consulting a lawyer may help you understand your legal options. Understanding your rights and options is the first step toward action.

Consulting an attorney can help you assess potential legal options. Many firms, including ours, offer free case evaluations to discuss your situation. Contact us today to learn more.