Yes, the movie Dark Waters (2019) is based on a true story. It tells the story of the legal battle fought by Robert Bilott against the chemical company DuPont over their dumping of toxic chemicals in West Virginia. The film is based on the article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich, which was published in The New York Times Magazine in 2016.
What is the true story behind the movie Dark Waters (2019)?
The movie Dark Waters is based on the true story of lawyer Robert Bilott’s 20-year legal battle against chemical manufacturing company DuPont. Bilott, who had previously worked for DuPont, became involved in the case when a farmer from West Virginia reached out to him about the strange behavior of his cows and the high number of deaths among his cows after DuPont’s landfill adjacent to the farm was used to dispose of waste from the company’s production of Teflon. Bilott began to investigate and discovered that DuPont had been knowingly dumping toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the local water supply, which had contaminated the drinking water of tens of thousands of people in the area. The company had been aware of the potential health risks associated with PFAS for decades but had kept this information hidden. Bilott’s case against DuPont eventually led to a $671 million settlement for the victims and the implementation of stricter regulations for PFAS.
Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Dark Waters (2019)?
Yes, there are a few books about the true story behind the movie Dark Waters (2019):
-
“Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer’s Twenty-Year Battle against DuPont” by Robert Bilott - This is the book on which the movie is based.
-
“Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof, and Lethal: The Hidden Dangers of C8” by Callie Lyons - This book provides a more in-depth look at the toxic chemical C8 and its effects on people and the environment.
-
“The Teflon Toxin: Dupont and the Chemistry of Deception” by Sharon Lerner - This book traces the history of Dupont’s use of C8 and the company’s efforts to conceal its dangers.
You can try an audible free trial and search for audiobook versions of those