West Virginia Factory’s Pollution Could Trouble Louisville’s Drinking Water

"Louisville’s drinking water utility says a West Virginia factory’s PFAS pollution could cause problems locally. The facility faces a lawsuit for violating its permit." 

"About 400 miles upstream from Louisville, the Chemours Co.’s Washington Works operation has been releasing higher-than-permitted amounts of a forever chemical into the Ohio River.

In recent court filings, Louisville Water Co. – the utility that processes river water into drinking water for Jefferson and surrounding counties – linked a local spike in PFAS pollution last December to the West Virginia factory, while Chemours disputed the correlation.

Research shows exposure to some PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, nicknamed forever chemicals because they’re almost indestructible – can heighten serious health risks.

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting recently covered this issue. So has journalist Sarah Elbeshbishi, of Mountain State Spotlight."

Louisville Public Media had the story July 15, 2025.

Source: Louisville Public Media, 07/21/2025