The mushrooming costs of cleaning a toxic fire-fighting chemical out of water supplies are becoming difficult to bear, according to interviews with water utility officials in cities and towns across the country.
As scientists have connected more illnesses to these chemicals, known as perfluorinated or polyfluorinated compounds, many utilities have scrambled to shut down wells and secure alternative sources of drinking water—in some cases incurring millions in unbudgeted expenses.
Some of the utilities that were most affected by this contamination are now asking who should compensate them for these expenses. Should it be the military, the most prolific user of ...