As the latest lawsuit over “forever chemicals” in Colorado water makes headlines, Coloradans may be wondering: What happens if my drinking water is contaminated by PFAS?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manmade chemicals that break down very slowly, can find their way into food or drinking water, and are likely tied to certain cancers and other serious health concerns.
The potential consequences of ingesting PFAS make water contamination a serious issue, as the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District has discovered. In January 2026, South Adams the city and county of Denver, alleging that runoff from Denver’s firefighting training center tainted South Adams’ water supply with PFAS and forced the district to take on costly remediation over the last few years.
The case is just the latest instance of concern over , which has a that store or use PFAS. Fortunately for Coloradans, the team at Burg Simpson has experience with environmental contamination cases and knows how to help individuals who suspect that Colorado PFAS contamination may be damaging their drinking water and health.
Why Are PFAS a Problem?
PFAS are that are resistant to heat, oil, and water, firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, some food packaging, carpet and fabric coatings, and more everyday applications.
Because they’re very durable, PFAS don’t break down easily and can get into drinking water and food as they’re produced, used, and disposed of (contaminated drinking water is a particularly significant ).
Science is still trying to learn about all the ways PFAS exposure and buildup may impact the human body, but currently, it seems that PFAS decreased fertility, developmental delays and abnormalities in children, some kinds of cancer, suppressed immune response, and hormonal issues.
People of health issues from PFAS include young children, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those who live in contaminated areas, or people — like — who are exposed to PFAS on the job.
What if I Suspect PFAS Water Contamination at My Colorado Property?
Regardless of how or when you start experiencing abnormal health issues and suspect contaminated drinking water in Colorado, you should call a lawyer.
Contamination warning signs may look like new, unexplained health complications, said Burg Simpson Shareholder Stephen Burg. If you’re experiencing these issues, Burg recommends working with a doctor to address and document your condition, researching your health, and, if you think you’re dealing with PFAS contamination, contacting a water contamination lawyer in Colorado.
“Trust your instincts, and if you think something’s there, follow up on it, do an internet search, reach out to a lawyer, and get somebody looking into it,” Burg said.
“Colorado’s statute of limitations means that your window to bring legal action could start as early as the time you learn that you’re ill and begin to experience symptoms and when you could reasonably identify the cause of your illness,” said Seth A. Katz, shareholder at Burg Simpson.
A negligence claim like the one you might file for PFAS contamination has a two-year statute of limitations.
As the court-appointed co-lead class counsel in the , Katz is well-versed in environmental contamination cases. When contamination occurs, Burg Simpson has the resources to reach the scene and document evidence as quickly as possible. For example, after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 2023, Burg Simpson was one of the law firms that had experts there within a few days to take soil samples that would support their case.
If you find yourself potentially facing PFAS contamination, itap essential that you find a Colorado attorney who’s an expert in environmental contamination cases.
How Do I Make a Water Contamination Case?
While Burg Simpson is quick to respond to these cases, actual water contamination claims can take a long time to work their way through the legal system.
When you find out that you’re being exposed to contaminated drinking water in Colorado, you have the right to sue if a company or individuals were negligent and responsible. These cases are often long-term fights that involve well-resourced defendants.
“More times than not, you’re against a large company that has tons of resources,” Burg said. “They’re going to do PR control and try to gather up as much of the evidence out there so we can’t get it — they’re going to try to do a quick cleanup on it, so the evidence could be lost.”
Itap not just the initial fight for evidence that will be complex, Katz said. In a contamination case, the things you will have to prove include who released the contaminant, what the contaminating substance is, if the substance can cause your medical issue, that you were exposed to the substance and your exposure was in a sufficient amount to cause the illness, and that you contracted the medical issue as a result of your exposure.
Plausibly proving that chain of cause-and-effect events requires a bevy of experts, from environmental or toxicological professionals to medical experts who can speak to the link between PFAS and your condition. Assembling these kinds of teams can be extremely expensive, but Burg Simpson — a nationwide firm — has the resources to help plaintiffs fight.
In Colorado, you also have legal options beyond a personal injury lawsuit, which would require you to prove that the contamination has already caused you some kind of physical or emotional harm. Depending on the facts, you may be able to pursue a claim for medical monitoring, even if you don’t have demonstrable medical issues, but reasonably expect that the pollutant may cause certain illnesses in the future. The viability of a medical monitoring claim varies by state; in Colorado, your claim may proceed or be stopped by a judge.
In a water contamination case, you may also be able to bring a claim for monetary damages based on trespass or nuisance, telling the polluter, “you’ve encroached on my property without my permission, and I’ve lost the use and enjoyment of my property,” Katz said.
Regardless of the direction a PFAS water contamination case takes, itap essential that you work with an extremely experienced law firm that has the financial and human resources needed to pursue these complex cases. When it comes to Colorado water contamination cases, Burg Simpson is ready to take on that fight.
“The sooner somebody can reach out to a lawyer, especially a law firm that can handle the fight that these corporations often bring, the better off they’ll be,” Burg said.
If you think you have grounds for a water contamination lawsuit, .
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this postap preparation.
