Williamstown to participate in water contamination litigation against 3M
Williamstown Mayor Paul Jordan explains why he would like to delay the bidding process for demolition of the old Williamstown high school at Tuesday’s Williamstown City Councl meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Ben Ware, attorney from Goodwin and Goodwin law firm based in Charleston, speaks to Williamstown City Council member Jim Stage after Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Ben Ware, attorney from Goodwin and Goodwin law firm based in Charleston, explains the parameters of a PFAS water contamination lawsuit against 3M at Tuesday’s Williamstown City Council meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Williamstown Mayor Paul Jordan explains why he would like to delay the bidding process for demolition of the old Williamstown high school at Tuesday’s Williamstown City Councl meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Ben Ware, attorney from Goodwin and Goodwin law firm based in Charleston, speaks to Williamstown City Council member Jim Stage after Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Ben Ware, attorney from Goodwin and Goodwin law firm based in Charleston, explains the parameters of a PFAS water contamination lawsuit against 3M at Tuesday’s Williamstown City Council meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
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WILLIAMSTOWN -- Williamstown City Council voted to start participating in a water contamination litigation against 3M Tuesday evening.
Attorney Ben Ware of Goodwin and Goodwin law firm based out of Charleston, spoke to council about a pending litigation regarding water contamination of the chemical polyfluoroalkyl or PFAS.
"It was a chemical originally manufactured by 3M and other manufacturers. It was used in fire fighting foams. Throughout the last number of decades, it's been used in trainings, to put out fires and its been manufactured into a variety of other products. Unfortunately it's found its way into our water systems across the United States," Ware explained.
Ware said Goodwin and Goodwin has worked with another law firm in New York who has been litigating a case with 3M with a potential $10.5 billion settlement.
Ware said he wasn't at the meeting to cause alarm.
"I'm not here to create a stir, to cause a panic. It's more so regulations and the crackdown by the (Environmental Protection Agency) and their authorized parts per trillion are ever decreasing," he said.
Williamstown Mayor Paul Jordan agreed, emphasizing that when the city last tested the water supply in 2022, the measurement hadn't changed, the standard had.
As part of the city's participation in the litigation, they will need to have the water supply tested again.