The federal lawsuit initiated by Pike Water Inc. against AGC Chemicals Americas Inc. and 14 other chemical companies marks a pivotal moment in the nationwide struggle against "forever chemicals," also known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). This legal action, now consolidated within a massive multi-district litigation (MDL) in South Carolina, brings into sharp focus the pervasive nature of PFAS contamination and its profound implications for public health and environmental integrity across six counties in southeast Ohio. The utility's pursuit of extensive damages aims to cover the substantial costs of investigating, remediating, treating, and continuously monitoring its contaminated water resources.

PFAS are a complex group of synthetic compounds, globally utilized since the 1950s, renowned for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. However, these very properties contribute to their extreme persistence in the environment and their tendency to accumulate in living organisms, including humans. Scientific evidence increasingly links exposure to these chemicals with a range of serious health issues, including various cancers, complications during pregnancy, and compromised immune system function. The Pike Water Inc. lawsuit starkly illustrates the immense financial and environmental burden imposed by these non-biodegradable chemicals, necessitating costly and protracted remediation efforts.

This report delves into the specifics of the Pike Water Inc. case, while also placing it within the broader context of the environmental legacy left by the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Piketon, Ohio. PORTS, a former uranium enrichment facility, has a decades-long history of releasing radioactive and chemical contaminants into the surrounding region. By examining the elevated cancer incidence and mortality rates in the counties served by Pike Water Inc., this comprehensive analysis aims to illuminate the compounding public health challenges confronting this historically impacted area.

Pike Water Inc. Files Federal Lawsuit Over 'Forever Chemicals'

Allegations: Decades of Deception and Widespread Contamination

Pike Water Inc., the water utility responsible for providing drinking water to Pike, Ross, Jackson, Adams, Highland, and Scioto Counties in southeast Ohio, has filed a federal lawsuit against AGC Chemicals Americas Inc. and 14 other chemical companies. The identified defendants in this case (Case # 2:25-cv-00527, Ohio Southern Court) include prominent chemical manufacturers such as Archroma, Arkema SA, BASF SE, Clariant AG, Johnson Controls International PLC, Chemguard Inc., and Tyco Fire Products LP.

The central accusation leveled by Pike Water Inc. is that these companies were responsible for the design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and/or sale of "forever chemicals" (PFAS) that, by their inherent nature, resist environmental breakdown and have subsequently contaminated the utility's property. A particularly significant claim within the lawsuit is the assertion that some manufacturers of firefighting foam, specifically aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), containing these "forever chemicals" possessed knowledge of their potential to contaminate soil and water as early as the 1960s, yet allegedly continued to sell these products regardless. This historical awareness transforms the nature of the legal challenge from one of simple contamination to a profound question of corporate culpability and a systemic pattern of behavior that has directly fueled the current crisis. The legal action, therefore, extends beyond mere cleanup costs to address a long-standing disregard for public and environmental well-being, underscoring the critical need for corporate responsibility and transparency in product safety.

The complaint further details that these toxic chemicals, once released, are not only persistent but also highly mobile, easily migrating through soil and groundwater. This characteristic allows them to contaminate drinking water supplies over vast geographical areas, thereby posing significant and long-term risks to both environmental and human health. The lawsuit explicitly connects exposure to these chemicals with a wide array of serious health issues, including various cancers (specifically citing testicular and kidney cancers), pregnancy complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, thyroid disorders, increased liver enzymes, high cholesterol, and a decreased response to vaccinations.

The Fight for Accountability: Seeking Extensive Damages

Pike Water Inc. asserts that the documented presence of these chemicals on its property has already resulted in significant past costs and will lead to substantial anticipated future expenses. The utility is seeking to recover all compensatory and consequential damages. These damages specifically encompass the costs associated with the investigation, remediation, treatment, removal, disposal, and ongoing monitoring of the contamination affecting its water resources, including its water supply, wells, and treatment facilities. Pike Water Inc.'s pursuit of compensation for these extensive activities reveals the truly staggering and multifaceted financial strain imposed by PFAS contamination. The non-biodegradable nature and pervasive spread of these chemicals mean that the costs of managing this pollution are not a one-time expense but an immense, long-term burden that could persist for decades. Without successful recovery from the chemical companies, these substantial and enduring expenses would inevitably fall upon the utility's ratepayers. The lawsuit's comprehensive aim is to recoup not only the damage already incurred but also the considerable anticipated expenditures required to ensure the continued safety of the water supply for its customers.

Part of a National Battle: Thousands of Similar Lawsuits

The Pike Water Inc. lawsuit is not an isolated legal action but is part of a rapidly growing wave of litigation concerning "forever chemicals" across the United States. The case has been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, where it has been consolidated into a larger Multi-District Litigation (MDL), specifically MDL No. 2873. As of November 1, 2024, this MDL encompassed nearly 10,000 pending claims (9,896), establishing it as one of the largest MDLs in the nation. The MDL primarily focuses on allegations of PFAS-contaminated groundwater, largely attributed to the widespread historical use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in firefighting operations.

This mass litigation effort has already yielded significant financial resolutions. Notable settlements include:

• 3M: A $10.3 billion settlement, payable over 13 years, to resolve claims from public water systems.

• DuPont (and related entities, including The Chemours Company and Corteva Inc.): Nearly $1.2 billion to address PFAS water contamination claims.

• BASF Corporation: A $316.5 million settlement for claims related to PFAS contamination in public water sources.

• Carrier Global (through its subsidiary Kidde-Fenwal): A $730 million settlement for PFAS-related fire protection unit claims.

The consolidation of nearly 10,000 PFAS cases and the multi-billion dollar settlements already reached vividly illustrate the widespread impact and severe financial consequences of "forever chemical" pollution. However, it is crucial to recognize that these substantial resolutions primarily address claims related to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), representing only a small fraction of the over 9,000 known PFAS compounds. This suggests that the current legal and environmental challenges are merely the beginning, with the full scope of the crisis and potential future litigation likely to be far more extensive. The legal landscape continues to evolve, drawing in "downstream" commercial manufacturers who incorporate PFAS into their processes, and even entities that retail products containing PFAS, such as consumer goods, food packaging, and bandages. This indicates an expanding web of accountability across the entire product supply chain. Plaintiffs are increasingly asserting claims for medical monitoring, seeking early detection of diseases without necessarily alleging a present injury, reflecting a proactive approach to potential long-term health effects.

Piketon's Toxic Legacy: The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

Decades of Discharge: A History of Environmental Violations

The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), located in Piketon, Ohio, operated from 1952 to 2001, primarily for enriching uranium for nuclear weapons and the U.S. Department of Energy's atomic energy program. PORTS is widely recognized as one of the most contaminated sites in the United States, bearing a pervasive legacy of dangerous radioactive and chemical contaminants that have spread far beyond its original boundaries, impacting the land, water, and air.

Historical releases from the plant include radioactive particles such as Americium-241, Plutonium-238, and Uranium-235, which retain their hazardous properties for thousands of years. Additionally, chemical pollutants like Trichloroethylene (TCE), beryllium, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and asbestos have been documented as part of the contamination. The plant's operational history is marked by a pattern of chronic violations of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, with numerous instances of exceeding limits for contaminants such as Total Suspended Solids (TSS), TCE, and fluoride. This extensive record points to a systemic and prolonged failure in environmental stewardship and regulatory oversight. The persistence of many of these contaminants, particularly radioactive isotopes, means that the environmental impact of PORTS is not a past problem but an enduring legacy that will necessitate continuous monitoring and remediation efforts for generations to come.

The severity of the contamination became acutely apparent in 2019 when Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon, situated just two miles from the plant, was permanently closed following the discovery of radioactive isotopes, including enriched uranium and neptunium-237, inside the building. This incident served as a powerful symbol of the community's ongoing struggle with the profound health impacts stemming from the site.

Groundwater and PFAS: EPA Raises Concerns at PORTS

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has voiced strong criticisms against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the agency overseeing PORTS, accusing it of providing "false and misleading information" regarding contamination levels at the site, particularly concerning Parcel 4, a section designated for potential public use. The Ohio EPA's concerns include the DOE's characterization of Parcel 4 as "uncontaminated" despite contradictory data, inadequate sampling protocols that failed to account for deeper contamination layers, and, notably, a delayed approach to testing for PFAS.

The Ohio EPA explicitly warned that postponing PFAS testing would cause delays and complicate the environmental baseline survey necessary for land transfer, demanding the "immediate inclusion of PFAS testing in the current plan". These direct accusations from the Ohio EPA against the DOE for misleading information and delayed PFAS testing raise serious concerns about a significant lack of transparency and a potentially unquantified risk of PFAS contamination directly linked to the former nuclear facility. The full extent of PFAS originating from or near PORTS may not be comprehensively understood or publicly disclosed, adding another layer of environmental concern for regional water quality, distinct from but potentially contributing to the broader PFAS issues addressed by the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit.

While PORTS does treat off-site groundwater to supply drinking water for its workforce, PFAS was detected in this off-site groundwater in 2020. However, PFAS was not detected in the treated water, and the DOE has stated that this off-site groundwater is "not hydraulically connected to the site groundwater". Despite the DOE's assurances that contamination is under control, critics and environmental advocates continue to advocate for independent testing and full public disclosure of all contamination data, including the complete extent of radioactive isotopes and PFAS chemicals.

Untangling the Sources: PORTS and Pike Water's PFAS

An important distinction must be made between the historical radioactive and chemical contamination directly associated with the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the PFAS contamination that forms the basis of the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit. While PORTS has a well-documented legacy of various contaminants, including radioactive materials and TCE, and faces ongoing concerns about its own PFAS testing and transparency, the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit specifically targets chemical manufacturers for PFAS, often linking the contamination to firefighting foam (AFFF). This indicates that while the region faces multiple, complex environmental challenges from various sources, the specific PFAS contamination impacting Pike Water Inc. may stem from a distinct origin, even as PORTS contributes to the overall environmental burden of the area.

The provided research material does not explicitly establish a direct causal link between the PFAS contamination alleged by Pike Water Inc. and the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant as the sole source of that specific PFAS. Indeed, DOE statements indicate that PFAS was not detected in treated drinking water from PORTS' off-site groundwater in 2020, and that this off-site groundwater is not hydraulically connected to the main site groundwater. However, the widespread presence of PFAS compounds detected throughout the Ohio River, a vital drinking water source for millions, with PFOA and GenX appearing at concerning levels, suggests a broader regional PFAS contamination issue that could stem from multiple industrial or commercial sources. The general mobility and persistence of PFAS through soil and groundwater further support the idea of regional spread from various origins.

The Public Health Imperative: Protecting Southeast Ohio's Water

PFAS: The Persistent Threat to Human Health

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a vast group of human-made chemicals that have been extensively used worldwide since the 1950s. Their applications range from non-stick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics to food packaging and specialized firefighting foams (AFFF). The unique chemical structure of PFAS, characterized by extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds, renders them highly persistent in the environment and remarkably resistant to metabolic degradation within the human body. This inherent persistence leads to their bioaccumulation, meaning they build up in bodily tissues over time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has explicitly recognized drinking water as a significant pathway for human exposure to PFAS.

Extensive scientific research has established links between PFAS exposure and a wide range of severe health issues. These include various cancers, notably kidney and testicular cancers, as highlighted in the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit. Beyond carcinogenic effects, other documented health impacts include pregnancy complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, various thyroid disorders, increased liver enzymes, high cholesterol, and a decreased response to vaccinations. The National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency program headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), has specifically concluded that two common types of PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, suppress antibody response, thereby posing an immune hazard to humans.

The extensive list of health conditions associated with PFAS exposure, coupled with the chemicals' bio accumulative and persistent nature, reveals a compounding and long-term health threat for exposed populations. Unlike many contaminants, PFAS resist metabolic degradation, meaning that even a brief exposure can lead to a significant accumulation in the body that persists for years and can increase with subsequent exposures. This characteristic implies that the health risks are not transient; rather, the existing "body burden" of PFAS could continue to pose dangers for decades, potentially resulting in the delayed onset of diseases and necessitating sustained medical monitoring and public health vigilance for affected communities.

In a landmark regulatory development, the U.S. EPA finalized the first-ever national standards, known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six specific PFAS compounds in drinking water in April 2024. These new regulations set MCLs for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), and for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX chemicals) at 10 ppt each. Additionally, a Hazard Index MCL was established for mixtures containing at least two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS. Public water systems across the country are now mandated to complete initial monitoring for these regulated PFAS by 2027 and must achieve full compliance with the new MCLs by 2029. Despite the widespread use of PFAS chemicals since the 1950s, the U.S. EPA only finalized national drinking water standards (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. This decades-long gap between the introduction of these persistent chemicals and the implementation of enforceable federal regulations has allowed pervasive environmental contamination and human exposure to escalate largely unchecked. This reactive approach to emerging contaminants has undeniably exacerbated the current public health crisis and contributed to the necessity for extensive legal actions, such as the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit.

Water Quality Across Six Counties: A Mixed Picture

Pike Water Inc. provides drinking water to six counties in southeast Ohio: Pike, Ross, Jackson, Adams, Highland, and Scioto Counties. The available data presents a nuanced picture of PFAS contamination within this service area. While the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit strongly suggests the utility's water supply "has already been compromised" by the chemicals, EPA testing records as of October 28, 2024, for the "PIKE WATER, INC.-PLANT PWS" (located in Waverly, OH, within Pike County) indicated "No PFAS detected" for regulated PFAS compounds (0 out of 12 tests). However, these same records also showed "Unregulated PFAS detected" (2 out of 46 tests). This highlights that the term "contamination" can be interpreted differently—either as the presence of any PFAS or specifically exceeding regulated limits. This distinction is important, especially given the thousands of PFAS compounds, many of which remain unregulated. The situation prompts questions about whether the contamination primarily affects the utility's physical property (e.g., soil, infrastructure) rather than its direct water supply, or if the lawsuit's claims are anticipatory based on documented property contamination.

For other public water systems within the broader six-county service area, some insights are available:

• Scioto County Regional Water District #1 reported in its 2023 Annual Water Quality Report that "none were detected in our finished drinking water" for six sampled PFAS compounds in 2020.

• Jackson County Water Company stated in its 2023 Annual Water Quality Report that its drinking water is "safe and meets federal and state requirements," operating under an unconditional License-To-Operate from Ohio EPA with no violations in 2023.

• Adams County PFAS testing in 2020 identified combined PFOA and PFOS concentrations between 26-40 ppt in source water wells for its public water system, which was below the then-EPA Health Advisory Level of 70 ppt.

• Highland County Water Company, Inc. also reported "No PFAS detected" for regulated PFAS but "Unregulated PFAS detected" as of October 2024.

It is important to note that comprehensive and recent Ohio EPA PFAS drinking water testing results specifically for all public water systems within Pike, Ross, Jackson, Adams, Highland, and Scioto Counties are not explicitly available in the provided information. The Ohio EPA website mentions "Reports & Data" but does not contain the specific county-level PFAS drinking water data requested. The absence of comprehensive, publicly accessible Ohio EPA PFAS drinking water testing results for all public water systems across the six counties means that a complete understanding of drinking water safety throughout the entire service area remains elusive.

Community Response: Remediation Efforts and Transparency Gaps

Pike Water Inc.'s pursuit of damages for remediation, treatment, and monitoring costs indicates a recognition of the significant future actions required to address the contamination. However, it remains "unclear what form of remediation the water company has been engaged in since discovery was made on its property" and, notably, "if the company has notified customers of the contamination". This lack of clarity regarding current efforts and public communication raises questions about immediate public health transparency.

This situation stands in stark contrast to the proactive and transparent approaches adopted by other communities. For instance, the City of Loveland, Ohio, is actively evaluating its water treatment facility for PFAS removal and has joined class-action lawsuits against manufacturers to recover costs. Similarly, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, provides a model for comprehensive remediation: after discovering AFFF contamination from a former Air Force Base, the city shut down a contaminated well and constructed a new drinking water treatment facility in April 2021, incorporating advanced ion-exchange resin and activated carbon filtration systems specifically for PFAS removal.

The Ohio EPA has made significant grant funding available, approximately $17 million per year over five years, sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL), to assist with PFAS treatment projects across the state. Legislative efforts in Ohio are also underway, such as the PURE LIFE Act (House Bill 272), which aims to restrict PFAS in consumer products and restore local control over water fluorination. At the federal level, the "Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act" (H.R. 3897) seeks to provide clarity in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process, aiming to shift the ultimate responsibility for accurately detecting and providing guidance on unknown chemical discharges, including PFAS, from businesses to the EPA. This disparity in approach, where some utilities are actively communicating and remediating while others remain less transparent, emphasizes that while new national regulations are emerging, the immediate responsibility for identifying, addressing, and communicating water contamination risks often falls heavily on individual water utilities. Legislative initiatives like Ohio's PURE LIFE Act and the federal Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act signal a growing recognition of this significant burden and aim to establish clearer responsibilities and support structures for water providers.

The Human Cost: Elevated Cancer Rates in Affected Counties

Alarming Statistics: Cancer Incidence and Mortality

All six counties served by Pike Water Inc.—Pike, Ross, Jackson, Adams, Highland, and Scioto—consistently exhibit significantly higher cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to both Ohio and U.S. averages, based on data from 2018-2022. This persistent regional health disparity points to a cumulative effect of various environmental factors and historical contamination, including the long-standing legacy of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The notably higher rates of kidney cancer observed in several of these counties are particularly striking, given the explicit links between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer cited in the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit and by health agencies. While these statistics do not establish a definitive causal link to Pike Water Inc.'s specific PFAS contamination, they underscore the vulnerability of the population to environmental pollutants and the urgent need for comprehensive investigation into specific regional exposures.

Detailed county-level statistics for 2018-2022 reveal the extent of this health crisis:

• Pike County: An average of 79 cancer deaths occurred annually, resulting in a mortality rate of 211.0 per 100,000 population, substantially higher than Ohio's rate of 161.1 and the U.S. rate of 146.0. Annually, 195 new invasive cancer cases were diagnosed, with an incidence rate of 544.4 per 100,000 population, exceeding Ohio's rate of 471.1 and the U.S. rate of 444.6. Lung and bronchus cancer was the leading cause of both cancer incidence (20.1%) and mortality (31.1%). Kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence was 25.4 per 100,000, notably higher than Ohio (18.2) and U.S. (17.3) averages. Testicular cancer incidence was unstable, reported as less than one case.

• Ross County: The cancer mortality rate was 186.8 per 100,000 population, and the incidence rate was 520.9 per 100,000, both exceeding state and national averages. Kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence was 25.0 per 100,000, and testicular cancer incidence was unstable (2 cases).

• Jackson County: The cancer mortality rate was 208.2 per 100,000 population, and the incidence rate was 501.8 per 100,000. Kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence was 24.7 per 100,000, and testicular cancer incidence was unstable (less than one case).

• Adams County: This county recorded the highest mortality rate among the six, at 241.9 per 100,000 population, significantly above state and national averages. The incidence rate was 509.6 per 100,000.

• Highland County: The cancer mortality rate was 193.9 per 100,000 population, and the incidence rate was 481.3 per 100,000. Kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence was 21.5 per 100,000, and testicular cancer incidence was unstable (2 cases).

• Scioto County: The cancer mortality rate was 202.8 per 100,000 population, and the incidence rate was 482.6 per 100,000. Kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence was 23.3 per 100,000, and testicular cancer incidence was unstable (2 cases).

Documented Links: PFAS and Serious Health Issues

PFAS exposure has been extensively linked by scientific studies and health agencies to a range of serious health issues. The Pike Water Inc. lawsuit itself highlights the concerning connection to kidney and testicular cancers. Beyond these specific cancers, other documented health effects include pregnancy complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, various thyroid disorders, increased liver enzymes, high cholesterol, and a decreased antibody response to some vaccines. The National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency program headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), has specifically concluded that two common types of PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, suppress antibody response, thereby posing an immune hazard to humans.

A critical characteristic of PFAS is their resistance to metabolic degradation within the human body. This means that even a short-term exposure can lead to a significant accumulation, or "body burden," that persists for years and can increase with subsequent exposures, posing a long-term health risk. The comprehensive list of health effects linked to PFAS, combined with their bioaccumulative and persistent nature, reveals a compounding and long-term health threat for exposed populations. This means that even if current exposure levels are reduced, the existing "body burden" of PFAS could continue to pose dangers for decades, potentially resulting in the delayed onset of diseases and necessitating sustained medical monitoring and public health vigilance for affected communities.

The Road Ahead: Accountability, Regulation, and Public Health

The Pike Water Inc. lawsuit represents a significant legal and environmental battle, highlighting the profound and enduring challenges posed by "forever chemicals" in Ohio's drinking water. The utility's pursuit of extensive damages underscores the immense, long-term financial burden of PFAS contamination, which, if not recovered from responsible manufacturers, will ultimately impact ratepayers. The litigation is part of a much larger national MDL, where multi-billion dollar settlements have been reached for AFFF-related claims, yet this only scratches the surface of the thousands of PFAS compounds in existence, suggesting a far broader and evolving landscape of future accountability.

A critical aspect of this crisis is the historical context of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), a site with a decades-long legacy of diverse radioactive and chemical contamination. While the Pike Water Inc. lawsuit specifically targets chemical manufacturers for PFAS, distinct from PORTS' primary historical pollutants, the Ohio EPA's accusations of misleading information and delayed PFAS testing at PORTS raise concerns about an unquantified and potentially contributing source of contamination in the region. This complex environmental backdrop means that residents face multiple, overlapping threats to their health and water quality.

The alarming and consistently elevated cancer incidence and mortality rates across all six counties served by Pike Water Inc. point to a regional public health disparity. These statistics, particularly the higher rates of kidney cancer, align with documented health links to PFAS exposure, emphasizing the vulnerability of the population to environmental pollutants. The decades-long lag between the widespread introduction of PFAS and the recent finalization of national drinking water standards by the EPA illustrates a systemic regulatory challenge that has allowed pervasive contamination to escalate.

The current situation also reveals a disparity in how water utilities are addressing and communicating PFAS contamination. While some communities are proactively investing in advanced treatment and transparently informing residents, the clarity around Pike Water Inc.'s ongoing remediation efforts and customer notification remains limited. This places a significant burden on individual utilities to manage detection, remediation, and public communication, even as legislative efforts begin to address these systemic issues. The persistent nature of PFAS means that even with reduced exposure, the existing "body burden" in individuals could continue to pose health risks for years, necessitating sustained medical monitoring and public health vigilance in affected communities.

In conclusion, the Pike Water Inc. case is more than a single lawsuit; it is a microcosm of a complex national environmental and public health crisis. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive remediation, enhanced corporate accountability, proactive regulatory oversight, and transparent public communication to safeguard drinking water supplies and protect the long-term health of communities like those in southeast Ohio.