The Dedham-Westwood Water District will receive more than $4.9 million in settlement funds from 3M Company through a lawsuit filed in Feb 2023 against several manufacturers of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). The suit addressed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have contaminated groundwater supplies in the district’s service area.

The first disbursement of $984,124 will be received this month, with a further $2.24 million due by the end of 2025. The remaining balance will be provided in smaller annual payments over eight years, concluding in 2033.

PFAS have been used for decades in AFFF, industrial processes, and the manufacture of thousands of household and commercial products due to their heat-, stain- and water-resistant properties.

The district conducts monthly PFAS testing at both of its treatment plants. Results show current levels remain below the maximum contaminant threshold set by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which is 20 parts per trillion on a quarterly basis.

“Design plans for PFAS treatment at the White Lodge Water Treatment Facility are shovel-ready, and construction will begin shortly,” said executive director Blake Lukis. “Although these funds will help with the costs associated with removing PFAS, they only cover a fraction of the overall remediation.”

Construction at White Lodge is expected to cost around $15.55 million. The district has secured a 20-year interest-free loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, which, together with the settlement funds, will reduce the financial burden on ratepayers.

PFAS are entirely man-made chemicals that have impacted surface and groundwater across the US, leading to hundreds of lawsuits by water providers against manufacturers. These are being heard under a Multidistrict Litigation process supervised by a federal judge in South Carolina.

“We are honoured to have helped the Dedham-Westwood Water District assert its rights to ensure the quality and availability of water resources,” said Ken Sansone, senior partner at SL Environmental Law Group. “It is the corporations whose products contaminated the water that should shoulder the clean-up costs. By acting early and filing a lawsuit before the drinking water settlements were reached, the district secured a higher settlement payment. This increase, known as a litigation bump, rewards proactive action.”

The district is represented by SL Environmental Law Group, which focuses on water contamination litigation on behalf of public and private water providers. The firm has recovered more than $1.2 billion from corporate polluters for its clients.