Water Fight: Town Sues Big Tech for Polluted Supply

Will power in Willingboro now meets legal power as the local water authority takes a major technology firm and several others to federal court. The lawsuit claims that dangerous chemicals, known as PFAS and 1‑4 dioxane, have seeped into the town’s groundwater. These substances are listed by federal regulators as likely cancer‑causing. The town’s water system already poured more than five million dollars into fixing the problem. The new suit demands that the accused companies pay an additional twenty million dollars to clean up three more wells. The complaint argues that corporations, not taxpayers, should shoulder all past and future expenses.

The case is filed under the Superfund Act, a federal law that holds polluters responsible for cleanup. The claim states that the companies involved either let hazardous substances escape from their sites or failed to correct contamination once it happened. As a result, residents have had to rely on treated water that still carries risk. In addition to the tech giant, the lawsuit lists a handful of other firms and real‑estate owners. All have ties to properties that are linked with the pollution. Some of them no longer exist, yet their former activities still create legal obligations. The town’s commissioner said the water is safe to drink now, but the financial burden should not fall on ratepayers. She added that the community will continue to invest in safety as long as necessary. The companies named have not responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit seeks full reimbursement for all costs related to removing the contaminants from the water supply.

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