Tuesday evening, the Floyd County Commission approved Arnold & Itkin LLP as lead counsel to represent the county in pursuing legal claims connected to PFAS contamination affecting local landfills, drinking water wells, parks, and other public properties.

PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily break down in the environment and can remain in soil and water supplies for decades. Scientists and health officials have linked certain PFAS compounds to possible health risks including cancer, thyroid disease, immune system problems, and other long-term health concerns.

The issue has become one of the largest environmental concerns facing Northwest Georgia in recent years, particularly in areas tied to the region’s carpet manufacturing industry centered around Dalton and Whitfield County. Investigations by multiple news organizations found that PFAS chemicals were widely used for decades in stain-resistant carpet manufacturing products before wastewater carrying the chemicals entered local rivers and water systems.

Officials say PFAS contamination has created major financial burdens for local governments across Northwest Georgia as communities work to test water systems, monitor contamination levels, install treatment systems, and protect public infrastructure. Floyd County leaders say taxpayers could ultimately face millions of dollars in cleanup, remediation, monitoring, and long-term treatment costs if responsible parties are not held accountable.

The contamination concerns extend beyond Floyd County. Environmental groups and legal teams have expanded PFAS testing efforts into Floyd, Bartow, Polk, Paulding, Chattooga, and Haralson counties. Recent testing efforts in Northwest Georgia reportedly found some of the highest PFAS concentrations detected anywhere in the country.

In nearby Rome, the city previously reached a major settlement tied to PFAS contamination in the Oostanaula River, with settlement funds helping pay for a reverse osmosis water treatment facility designed to remove the chemicals from drinking water.

Meanwhile, litigation and political debate surrounding PFAS continue to intensify across the region as residents, environmental advocates, and local governments push for accountability from manufacturers, chemical suppliers, and other entities connected to the contamination.