Penticton, B.C., joins province’s ‘forever chemicals’ class-action lawsuit

VICTORIA — The B.C. city of Penticton will be representing municipalities in a class-action lawsuit against the makers of so-called “forever chemicals” for contaminating drinking-water systems.

The B.C. government launched the lawsuit in 2024 against manufacturers of consumer products that contain the PFAS chemicals, saying they could contaminate the environment for centuries and threaten people’s health.

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says in a statement Wednesday that Penticton has joined the lawsuit to represent municipalities “on the front lines” as they deal with the chemicals contaminating drinking water.

Sharma says the city has already played a leading role in testing and monitoring water systems, while co-ordinating with other municipalities to mitigate the chemicals’ impact on residents.