Class actions allege Connecticut utilities sold water containing PFAS

PFAS CT water class action lawsuits overview: 

• Who: Two groups of Connecticut residents filed separate class action lawsuits against Aquarion Water Co. and The Connecticut Water Co. 
• Why: The Connecticut residents claim Aquarion and Connecticut Water knowingly serve customers drinking water containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
• Where: The class action lawsuits were filed in Connecticut Superior Court. 

Aquarion Water Co. and The Connecticut Water Co. (CWC) have knowingly sourced water containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to customers since at least 2019, a pair of new class action lawsuits allege. 

Plaintiffs Deborah Vincent, Kate Losey and Courtney Ritchotte claim Aquarion began testing in 2019 for PFAS in its 70 public water systems in Connecticut, with test results showing elevated levels of “forever chemicals” in at least 29 towns or cities.

The plaintiffs argue Aquarion misled consumers who relied on representations that the drinking water they were purchasing was “clean, high-quality water.” 

“But as it turns out, Plaintiffs and Class Members were purchasing PFOS-contaminated Water of a nature less than what they bargained for,” the Aquarion class action states. 

Connecticut Water has detected PFAS in drinking water sources since at least 2019, class action says 

Plaintiffs Frances Hoffnagle, Lori Monroe and Carla Tracy filed a separate class action lawsuit against The Connecticut Water Co. over claims it knowingly serves public drinking water with PFAS to around 350,000 people in 60 towns in Connecticut. 

The plaintiffs in this case argue The Connecticut Water Co. has detected so-called “forever chemicals” in bodies of water and wells used as the source for water served to its customers since at least 2019, which the company is allegedly aware poses a danger to them. 

“Despite this knowledge, CWC has not taken adequate action to reduce PFAS … contamination levels to non-detectable levels in its water sources,” the CWC class action states. 

Both The Connecticut Water Co. and Aquarion are accused of violating the Connecticut Product Liability Act and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released data in August revealing that, of the first 7% of drinking water tests conducted by the agency, 7.8% of samples had perfluorooctanoic acid and 8.5% had perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. 

Have you purchased drinking water that has been contaminated with PFAS? Let us know in the comments. 

The plaintiffs in both cases are represented by Ian W. Sloss, Jonathan Seredynski and Krystyna Gancoss of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP.

The PFAS Connecticut water class action lawsuits are Hoffnagle, et al. v. The Connecticut Water Co., Case No. CV23-6175540, in the Hartford Judicial District of the Connecticut Superior Court, and Vincent, et al. v. Aquarion Water Co., Case No. CV23-6128205, in the Fairfield Judicial District of the Connecticut Superior Court. 

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