Dupont, Chemours, and Corteva Agree to Pay Nearly $1.2 Billion in Water Contamination Settlement

Three major U.S. chemical companies have agreed on a settlement of $1.185 billion to settle liability claims from public water systems. DuPont has agreed to pay nearly $400 million, Chemours (which is a spinoff of DuPont) $592 million, and Corteva roughly $193 million. The public water systems included in the settlement serve the vast majority of the U.S. population. Personal injury claims due to alleged exposure to PFAS have been excluded from this settlement, as have claims by state attorneys general regarding PFAS contamination of natural resources. DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva were severed from an ongoing case with 3M that was set to begin the trial on June 5. The city of Stuart, Florida, is accusing 3M of manufacturing PFAS despite knowing that the chemicals can cause cancer and other adverse health effects. Over 4,000 other plaintiffs are a part of the broader multi-district litigation that seeks to recover the expenses public and private water utilities are incurring to monitor, treat, and replace drinking water sources contaminated with PFAS. The trial has been delayed as the parties work towards a possible settlement.