$1.2 Billion Settlement From PFAS Manufacturers To Water Utilities Finalized
Drinking water utilities are set for a financial boost in their efforts to combat one of the most prevalent contaminant classes in the world.
“A federal district court judge granted final approval … to a $1.2 billion settlement between water utilities affected by ‘forever chemicals’ and DuPont de Nemours, as well as spinoff firms Chemours and Corteva,” The Hill reported. “Per the terms of the settlement, the three companies will collectively establish a $1.18 billion fund for public water systems that have been contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, at any level.”
PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” have been linked to significant health consequences for consumers and are being found in nearly every corner of the environment. As regulators attempt to set stricter drinking water limits for the chemicals, the cost of removing them from water systems remains a significant obstacle.
Those companies responsible for introducing PFAS into drinking water supplies in the first place are expected to chip in toward fixing the problem. And this latest settlement is set to inform additional financial compensation.
“The finalization of a separate, $10.3 billion settlement between the water providers and the company 3M is expected to occur shortly after the DuPont, Chemours and Corteva approval,” according to The Hill.
Some cities have previously argued that the proposed settlement amounts from DuPont and Chemours are inadequate to address PFAS issues. And public water systems needed to “actively opt out” of the recent settlements even without knowing the extent of their contamination, The Hill noted.
But even with major settlements from DuPont and 3M, it seems additional compensation will be sought. For instance, a city in Wisconsin has recently filed suit against 15 manufacturers and 61 insurance companies over the significant costs of treating PFAS.
“They will seek to show that the city incurred costs,” per WPR. “The city argues that manufacturers should be responsible for these costs, incurred by the city’s taxpayers.”
Should more settlements be achieved, water systems around the country may begin calculating the financial impact of PFAS treatment and working to figure out who will pay for it.
To read more about how water systems are addressing PFAS contamination, visit Water Online’s Contaminant Removal Solutions Center.