Maine utility sues Huhtamaki and others over PFAS water contamination
The Greater Augusta Utility District has sued Sappi North America, Huhtamaki, Kimberly-Clark and two American Tissue entities in federal court, alleging PFAS discharges from their paper and packaging plants contaminated groundwater feeding its drinking-water wells. The district, which serves about 13,750 residents, says PFAS first appeared in its wells in October 2021 and exceeded Maine's drinking-water standard by November 2024. Huhtamaki is accused of discharging PFAS-containing wastewater to a sanitary treatment district in Waterville; Sappi says it complies with environmental permits and does not knowingly use PFAS materials.
Why this mattersThe suit tests whether paper and packaging producers can be held liable for PFAS reaching shared municipal water supplies, beyond contamination at their own sites.
- Defendants named: Sappi North America, Huhtamaki, Kimberly-Clark, American Tissue Mills of Maine and American Tissue Corp.
- The Greater Augusta Utility District supplies drinking water to about 13,750 residents in Maine.
- PFAS were first detected in the district's wells in October 2021; levels exceeded Maine's drinking-water standard by November 2024.
- The district took a well offline and installed treatment in response to the contamination.
- The lawsuit alleges Huhtamaki discharged PFAS-containing wastewater to the Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District in Waterville.
- Sappi says it complies with environmental regulations and does not knowingly use PFAS-containing materials.
- The utility is seeking a jury trial and recovery of past and future PFAS remediation costs
- The complaint includes claims of negligence and continuing public nuisance
- Lawsuit filed 7 October 2026, case No. 1:26-cv-00512, in the US District Court for the District of Maine
- District's Riverside wells showed PFAS at about 23.3 ppt in November 2024, above Maine's 20 ppt interim standard
- District spent about USD 2m, largely grant-funded, on an ion-exchange treatment facility operating since summer 2026
- Claims include CERCLA cost recovery, public and private nuisance, trespass and negligence, with a jury trial requested