With 'forever chemicals' found in city water, Newark joins lawsuits against 3M, DuPont

Molly McVety, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read

The City of Newark has joined two class action suits related to “forever chemical” contamination.

Public water utilities around the country have filed two class action suits against 3M, DuPont and its subsidiaries Chemours and Corteva, related to the companies’ alleged contamination of surface and groundwater systems.

Any public water system in the country is considered eligible to join the class upon the slightest detection of per or poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as the harmful “forever chemicals."

What was detected in Newark and how much will it cost?

According to Newark City Manager Tom Coleman, PFAS has been detected in both groundwater and surface water samples in Newark, making the city eligible for joining the class action suits. Newark City Council voted to join the suit during an executive session on Nov. 27.

Construction is underway for the treatment at the city’s groundwater plant and plans are in motion to begin cleanup and treatment at the surface water plant. Coleman estimates that these treatments will cost the city around $2.5 million per year, and estimates a hike of around 25% in the city’s water rates in the future.

A water researcher tests a sample of water for PFAS, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose restrictions on harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water after finding they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable, but experts say removing them will cost billions.

More Newark news: Newark residents to see tax and utility hikes, but not as much as earlier thought

“We don’t think the amount of money that we’re going to get through [the suits] is adequate,” Coleman said. “Anything we can do to help bring down those numbers, we’re going to seriously look at doing for the benefit of our ratepayers.”

How much money could the city see from the lawsuit?

Newark estimates that the water utility will receive around $1 million between the two settlements, but the final amount will ultimately depend on factors like the number of claims submitted and available funding.

PFAS in Delaware, explained: 3M, DuPont, Chemours reach settlements of lawsuits involving harmful 'forever chemicals'

The Delaware Department of Justice recently filed its own lawsuit against 13 chemical companies related to PFAS contamination. The state is also already set to receive an additional $25 million from DuPont, Chemours and Corteva as a result of its 2021 settlement with the state.

Coleman assures that Newark’s water is still safe to drink, and if anyone has concerns about their water to contact Newark Public Works & Water Resources at (302) 366-7000.

Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Newark joins lawsuits against 3M, DuPont over 'forever chemicals'