The City of Tucson has taken legal action against the U.S. government, alleging that toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” released from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base have significantly and ongoing contaminated the city’s drinking water. Filed on Monday, the lawsuit seeks compensation for damages caused by PFAS and calls for the Air Force to fully fund or reimburse Tucson for implementing a treatment system to remove PFAS from untreated water supplies.
This lawsuit follows a May 2024 emergency order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which directed the Air Force and Arizona National Guard to address high PFAS concentrations detected in the groundwater near Tucson’s south side. The contamination emanates from sites associated with the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund project, including Air Force and National Guard properties.
Tucson’s struggle with PFAS contamination dates back more than a decade. PFAS was first detected in 2013, with contamination levels steadily increasing. By 2018, PFAS levels reached 133 parts per trillion, exceeding the EPA’s recommended threshold of 4-10 parts per trillion. This contamination has forced Tucson to take 31 wells offline and invest heavily in laboratory equipment and remediation efforts.
Tucson has spent $71.1 million on PFAS-related remediation and infrastructure, including a new pretreatment plant for the Tucson Airport Remediation Project (TARP). While the Air Force has highlighted its contributions—including $17 million for a new Advanced Oxidation Process facility in 2016—the city argues these efforts are insufficient to address the full scope of the contamination and its long-term impacts.
The contamination has strained Tucson’s water infrastructure and eroded public trust. Although Tucson Water assures residents that the water currently supplied meets safety standards, the city acknowledges the broader consequences of diminished consumer confidence.
In its complaint, Tucson accuses the Air Force of failing to mitigate the migration of PFAS from its properties into city wells. The lawsuit alleges the Air Force knowingly disregarded the risks of PFAS contamination spreading offsite and into Tucson’s water supply, creating a public nuisance, and committing trespass by allowing hazardous chemicals to infiltrate city-owned wells. Additionally, the city claims the Air Force breached its duty to warn Tucson of the potential for widespread contamination.
The lawsuit also highlights the health risks associated with PFAS, which have been linked to immune system damage, liver and kidney issues, and increased cancer risks. These long-lasting chemicals, used in products ranging from firefighting foams to consumer goods, have become a national environmental concern.
Tucson’s legal battle reflects a broader issue of PFAS contamination near military bases across the United States. For decades, PFAS-based aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) were widely used for firefighting on military installations, leading to contamination of nearby water supplies.
In Michigan, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base faced lawsuits over PFAS-contaminated groundwater that affected surrounding communities. Similarly, the former Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire has been a focal point for PFAS litigation and cleanup efforts after contamination was detected in local drinking water. These cases underscore the widespread impact of PFAS pollution from military operations and highlight communities’ challenges in securing adequate remediation and compensation.
Tucson’s lawsuit is part of increasing legal actions to hold polluters accountable for PFAS contamination. While the Air Force has pledged to collaborate with Tucson Water and the EPA, the city’s legal filing clarifies that more robust and sustained efforts are required to address the contamination effectively.
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