Texas County Declares a Disaster after Shocking Discovery

Contaminated land, poisoned water, and dying livestock have forced Texas officials to declare a disaster as they scramble to contain the invisible menace of 'forever chemicals.'

Johnson County officials issued a disaster declaration Tuesday after discovering high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," in local agricultural land.

The contamination stems from biosolids fertilizer, which has polluted soil, groundwater, surface water, and animal tissue. Johnson County Judge Christopher Boedeker reported that fish and cattle deaths have been linked to the contamination.

During a town hall meeting Tuesday night, Environmental Crime Investigator Dana Ames revealed that a complaint filed on December 29, 2024, triggered an extensive investigation and testing process.

"Through a very exhaustive and extensive investigation, we did a lot of testing with the assistance of scientists," Ames said. "Our test results were absolutely shocking."

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products. They are known to persist in the environment and have been linked to health risks, including cancer, immune system damage, and developmental issues.

The county's emergency declaration cites dangerously high PFAS levels—hundreds of times above the safety threshold set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Officials warn that the contamination poses an immediate risk to agriculture, public health, and drinking water.

"The situation threatens the very foundation of our agricultural community and the safety of our residents," Boedeker stated. "We are taking immediate action to protect our citizens and support our farming community through this crisis."

The declaration enables the county to seek federal assistance, and officials have urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to escalate the request for federal disaster aid.