The City of Eau Claire has received a $1.68 million first installment as part of the class action settlement with 3M over PFAS contamination. The total award for the 3M settlement is expected to reach $9.4 million, paid in installments through 2033. It is the first of four class action settlements in cases filed by the City against manufacturers of PFAS. Payments to the City from the settlements of all four claims are expected to exceed $12 million.
The City has been proactively addressing the presence of PFAS contaminants in groundwater at its wellfields, located near the airport. Historically, fire suppression foams containing PFAS, required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), were used in that area, contributing to contamination. PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are resistant to breaking down in the environment and have been linked to cancer and other serious health concerns. These contaminants are regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), with additional regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The City’s drinking water has consistently remained below the regulated concentration levels. To avoid using wells with elevated PFAS levels, the City has shut down nearly half of its wells closest to the airport; the remaining wells continue to provide uninterrupted water service to the community. In response, the City is constructing a PFAS filtration facility aimed at removing remaining trace amounts of PFAS from the water supply and reactivating the affected wells. This facility is projected to be operational in early 2026, representing a major step forward in ensuring clean and safe drinking water for Eau Claire residents.
Additionally, the City is part of three other outstanding PFAS-related class action lawsuits involving DuPont, BASF, and Tyco. While federal court administrators have not yet assigned values to these claims, the City anticipates additional payments to the City estimated at over $2 million from these settlements.
Eau Claire City Attorney Stephen Nick states: “The settlement amounts are significant payments from those responsible for PFAS, yet these funds do not fully cover the City's response costs. Eau Claire continues to collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to share remediation and treatment costs and strengthen efforts to safeguard the community's groundwater and drinking water supply.”
We thank the skilled and dedicated team in our Utilities Division and all those who worked on the PFAS emergency response and who continue to ensure the reliability and safety of our groundwater and community drinking water. The City remains committed to meeting our community’s needs effectively and with transparency as it navigates the complexities of PFAS contamination and remediation.
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