If you want to understand why PFAS contamination became a national crisis, start in Parkersburg, West Virginia. This is where it began — or more accurately, where the public finally learned what had been happening for decades.
The DuPont Washington Works plant, located just outside Parkersburg in Washington, West Virginia, manufactured Teflon using a chemical called PFOA — also known as C8 (for the eight carbon atoms in its chain). For decades, the plant released C8 into the air, the Ohio River, and the surrounding groundwater. The contamination affected the drinking water of tens of thousands of people across the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The story that unfolded — involving corporate deception, a tenacious lawyer, and one of the largest environmental health studies in history — became the subject of the 2019 film “Dark Waters” and fundamentally changed how America thinks about chemical contamination.
What DuPont Did
DuPont began using PFOA at the Washington Works plant in the 1950s to manufacture Teflon and other fluoropolymer products. Internal company documents, later revealed through litigation, showed that DuPont knew C8 was toxic, persistent in the environment, and accumulating in workers’ blood as early as the 1960s.
Despite this knowledge, the company:
- Discharged C8-laden wastewater into the Ohio River
- Dumped C8-contaminated waste in unlined landfills near the plant
- Released C8 into the air through stack emissions
- Failed to report the contamination to regulators or the public for decades
The contamination spread through multiple pathways. C8 entered the drinking water of communities drawing from the Ohio River and from groundwater wells near the plant. It accumulated in soil and sediment. It entered the food chain through contaminated water used by livestock.
The Tennant Case and the Science Panel
The story broke open through a farmer named Earl Tennant, whose cattle were dying after DuPont dumped waste on land adjacent to his property. Tennant hired attorney Rob Bilott, who spent years fighting DuPont in court and uncovering the extent of the contamination.
The litigation ultimately led to the C8 Science Panel — an independent epidemiological study of approximately 70,000 residents in the affected area. It was one of the largest studies of a single chemical’s health effects ever conducted.
The Science Panel’s findings, published between 2011 and 2012, established “probable links” between C8 exposure and six diseases:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- High cholesterol
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia)
These findings led to a class-action settlement of approximately $670 million in 2017 — a landmark in environmental litigation, though many affected residents considered it inadequate.
Parkersburg’s Water Today
The Parkersburg Utility Board provides drinking water to the city and surrounding areas, drawing from the Ohio River. After the C8 contamination was identified, the utility installed granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration to remove PFAS from treated water.
Today, the system’s treated water shows PFOA levels below both the EPA’s 2024 MCL of 4 ppt and West Virginia’s standards. The GAC treatment has been effective at reducing PFAS concentrations in finished water.
However, several realities persist:
- PFAS contamination in the environment hasn’t gone away. C8 is a “forever chemical” — it doesn’t break down naturally. Soil, sediment, and groundwater contamination around the Washington Works plant will persist indefinitely without active remediation
- The Ohio River still receives PFAS. While DuPont (now Chemours, which assumed the Washington Works operations) has reduced releases, PFAS enter the river from multiple sources along its length
- Private wells in the area may still be affected. Groundwater contamination plumes near the plant extend into areas where residents rely on private wells
- Blood levels remain elevated. PFAS accumulates in the body over years. Residents who were exposed for decades still carry elevated blood serum levels of PFOA, even years after exposure ended
Beyond C8: The Broader PFAS Picture
The C8/PFOA story in Parkersburg opened the door to understanding PFAS contamination nationwide. Since then:
- The EPA has identified PFAS contamination at hundreds of military bases, airports, and industrial sites across the country
- The 2024 federal MCLs established the first enforceable limits for PFAS in drinking water
- Chemours (DuPont’s spinoff) and other manufacturers face ongoing litigation over PFAS contamination
- GenX — a replacement chemical that Chemours developed partly in response to PFOA scrutiny — has itself been found to be persistent and potentially harmful, as documented in Wilmington, NC
Parkersburg residents have reason to be skeptical that the replacement chemicals are truly safer. They’ve seen this story before.
What EPA Data Shows
EPA ECHO compliance data for the Parkersburg water system shows:
- PFAS — Treated water maintained below federal and state limits through GAC filtration. Regular monitoring continues
- Lead and copper — System compliance maintained, though individual homes with older plumbing should test independently
- Disinfection byproducts — THMs and HAAs managed within limits. Ohio River source water requires robust treatment
- Volatile organic compounds — Monitored given the industrial context; no violations in recent reporting periods
Private Well Owners: Test Your Water
If you rely on a private well in the Mid-Ohio Valley — particularly within several miles of the Washington Works plant — PFAS testing is essential. The contamination plume from decades of DuPont operations extends beyond the plant boundaries.
Private well testing should include:
- PFAS panel — At minimum, PFOS and PFOA; ideally a broader panel of 30+ PFAS compounds
- VOCs — Industrial solvents and chemicals that may have migrated through groundwater
- Heavy metals — Including lead and arsenic
- Basic water chemistry — pH, hardness, total dissolved solids
West Virginia’s Bureau for Public Health can provide guidance on certified laboratories for PFAS testing.
What Residents Should Do
Whether you’re on city water or a private well, here’s what matters:
- Read your CCR. The Parkersburg Utility Board publishes annual water quality reports including PFAS monitoring results. Know what’s in your water.
- Test your blood. If you lived in the affected area during the years of peak contamination, consider requesting PFAS blood testing from your doctor. Knowing your levels helps with medical monitoring.
- Filter your water. Even though the public system treats for PFAS, an in-home activated carbon or reverse osmosis system provides an additional barrier. This is especially important for households with pregnant women, infants, or individuals with compromised immune systems.
- Stay engaged. The cleanup and litigation are ongoing. Community organizations and legal proceedings continue to shape the response. Stay informed about developments.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend treatment systems calibrated to the specific contaminants in your area.
Home Treatment for PFAS
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters — Effective for PFOS and PFOA. Whole-house or point-of-use configurations available. Requires regular media replacement
- Reverse osmosis — Highly effective for PFAS removal at the point of use. Best for drinking and cooking water
- Ion exchange systems — Specialized resins designed for PFAS removal. More expensive but very effective
- Pitcher filters — Some NSF-certified models reduce PFAS, but performance varies. Check certification specifics
The Legacy
Parkersburg’s C8 story is a cautionary tale about corporate responsibility, regulatory failure, and the real-world consequences of chemical contamination. DuPont knew. They didn’t tell anyone. And tens of thousands of people drank contaminated water for decades.
The residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley paid the price with their health. The least they deserve now is clean water, transparent monitoring, and a commitment that what happened here won’t be repeated.
That commitment is being tested, nationwide, as communities across America discover PFAS in their own water supplies. Parkersburg was first. It doesn’t have to be the template for how these stories end — but only if the lessons are actually learned.