Rural Kansas Couple Sues Dairy Alleging Water Contamination

A Kansas couple alleges in a lawsuit that a neighboring dairy has contaminated their water supply.

 The Hutchinson News reports that Beryl and Becky Grow of rural Reno County are seeking more than $75,000 in damages from Perry and Sharon Beachy. The suit alleges “permanent and irreparable” property damage.

The Beachys haven’t yet filed a formal response, but Sharon Beachy denied the suit’s allegations.

The suit contends the Beachys intentionally discharged waste from a lagoon on the dairy property onto the Grows’ adjoining three-acre property when the lagoon got too full. The suit also accuses the dairy of pumping wastewater from the lagoon when it was raining, so the Grows wouldn’t notice it.

The suit says testing shows that their well water is contaminated with nitrates and coliform bacteria.