Major settlements won’t cover filtering ‘forever chemicals’ out of water, raising utility bills

Homeowners could end up paying for water utilities to update their filtration systems as “forever chemicals” have been detected in drinking water across the United States.

Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are harmful substances linked to many adverse health outcomes and are highly durable against decomposition.

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They have been used for decades in clothing, food packaging, firefighting, and cookware, among other applications, but have seeped into nearly half of U.S. drinking water.

The perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been the subject of major lawsuits against manufacturers like 3M and DuPont, which, along with two other organizations, agreed to settle for up to $13.7 billion.

Sources close to PFAS litigation have described the chemicals to the Washington Examiner as “the next asbestos.” However, a study from the American Water Works Association said total nationwide costs for treatment could be $47 billion, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies said it could be $6 billion every year.

PFAS manufacturers have been sued by hundreds of local governments, which have alleged the companies produced the substances knowing they could contaminate water sources and harm the public. During deliberations, the companies maintained the chemicals would not cause harm at the levels detected.

Local water sources have already decided to hike utility costs for consumers, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported 13% to 50% bill spikes in places like Hawthorne, New Jersey; Wellesley, Massachusetts; and Wausau, Wisconsin.

The cost increases also come as the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule earlier this year requiring municipal sources to track and filter out the chemicals, setting maximum allowable limits to PFAS detection.

Increased costs do not just affect homeowners who use municipal water for everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Many businesses are starting to experience the fallout as well.

A laundromat owner in Wausau said he had to raise washing machine costs by 50 cents per cycle, resulting in him losing customers, while resident Jaime Pittsley, who switched to bottled water, said his water bill is still twice the normal amount.

“I don’t feel that the residents should be taking the brunt of the cost for this,” Pittsley told the Wall Street Journal. “I think these companies definitely should be footing the bill.”

Wausau is set to see around $65 million from the settlements.

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In a settlement involving DuPont, Corteva, and Chemours, hundreds of the 16,000 covered water sources have decided against being involved with the litigation. They can decide to opt in until March.

Typically, those water sources decide against involvement if they have relatively low levels of PFAS or want to retain an individual right to file suit against the companies, something legal experts say could take a decade to resolve and potentially result in millions in lawyer fees.