Two Salisbury residents have filed a federal lawsuit against Perdue AgriBusiness, accusing the Maryland-based company of discharging toxic wastewater containing PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” onto land and into nearby streams.
The lawsuit, filed in Maryland’s federal district court, alleges that Perdue’s Salisbury facility sprayed wastewater on fields, discharged it into Peggy Branch, and stored it in an on-site lagoon—practices the plaintiffs claim contaminated local groundwater with dangerously high levels of PFAS.
PFAS compounds, known for their persistence in the environment and human body, have been linked to serious health risks.
According to the complaint, private wells near Peggy Branch contained PFOS, a type of PFAS, at levels exceeding 100 parts per trillion.
Testing by the Maryland Department of the Environment in 2023 revealed PFAS levels up to 343 times the federal drinking water standard.
Perdue denies wrongdoing and says it cooperated fully with regulators, testing water for hundreds of properties, installing treatment systems, and offering bottled water.
The plaintiffs are seeking to halt the alleged discharges, compel cleanup, and impose civil penalties, arguing the contamination poses a long-term threat to public health.
