The Town of Whitmire, South Carolina, has sued fabrics manufacturer Fibertex Nonwovens and waste processing company VLS Piedmont for allegedly releasing toxic levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as forever chemicals, into a river the town uses as its primary source of drinking water.

Takeaway: This case is one of five recent suits filed against large manufacturers accused of improperly disposing of these chemicals, which the plaintiffs argue are not removed by conventional wastewater systems in smaller towns. One of the manufacturers sued, Fujifilm, is not a textile producer, which may suggest that the size of the companies accused of discharging toxins into local waters may be growing.