US: Texas authorities reveal severe groundwater contamination
Texas reported 252 new groundwater contamination cases in 2023, accounting for nearly nine percent of all open cases in the second-largest U.S. state, according to an official report.
The latest Texas Groundwater Protection Committee annual report compiles 2,870 open cases of groundwater contamination. Public drinking water in nearly every county of the state is affected, with some cases dating back decades.
Gas stations are identified as the primary source of pollution, accounting for a third of all cases, the report revealed. The most common contaminants include gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products, while some cases have an unknown source.
Texas relies on groundwater from aquifers for about 55 percent of its water supply, with agriculture being the largest consumer of groundwater statewide.
On December 12, Xinhua news agency reported that Texas is suing companies such as DuPont and 3M, accusing them of producing products containing toxic “forever chemicals,” commonly known as PFAS, and falsely advertising their safety.
DuPont’s Teflon and 3M’s Scotchgard were among products sold to Texans while concealing the risks, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in the lawsuit.
“Defendants marketed products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for over 70 years and were aware of the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals for over 50 years,” the lawsuit states.
Texas has detected PFAS contamination in some drinking water systems, with nearly 50 public water systems across the state reporting PFAS levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly released limits for drinking water.
Several states have already filed lawsuits over PFAS contamination, seeking compensation or alleging false advertising. In 2022, 3M announced plans to exit PFAS manufacturing by 2025 in response to environmental and legal pressures. DuPont spun off its division making PFAS-containing products in 2015.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of manmade chemicals widely used in various consumer products.
