3M’s $10.3 Billion Settlement
In June 2023, 3M agreed to pay at least $10.3 billion over 13 years to settle claims related to PFAS contamination of public drinking water systems across the United States. The settlement resolved claims by more than 300 public water utilities that 3M’s PFAS manufacturing contaminated drinking water supplies. Additional systems can still join the settlement, potentially increasing the total payment.
3M had manufactured PFOS and PFOA for decades, selling them to fire departments, military facilities, and industrial users as AFFF components. Internal documents revealed that 3M knew about PFAS health and environmental concerns as early as the 1970s but continued manufacturing and marketing the compounds.
DuPont/Chemours Settlement and Ongoing Claims
DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva — the corporate successors to the original DuPont PFAS operations — agreed to a $1.185 billion settlement with public water systems in 2023. This settlement came after years of litigation stemming from DuPont’s use of PFOA at its Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia, which contaminated drinking water for tens of thousands of residents.
The personal injury claims against DuPont arising from the C8 Health Project cohort resulted in individual settlements and jury verdicts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. High-profile cases involving kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and thyroid disease set precedents for PFAS personal injury litigation nationwide.
What These Settlements Mean Going Forward
The magnitude of PFAS settlements — exceeding $11 billion in just two cases — sends a powerful signal to other PFAS manufacturers, users, and insurers about the financial exposure associated with these chemicals. Insurance companies have responded by excluding PFAS claims from general liability policies, creating additional financial pressure on PFAS-linked businesses.
Settlement funds are being directed to water system treatment upgrades, but critics argue the amounts are insufficient given the scale of contamination. Continued litigation — including cases brought by states, municipalities, and individual plaintiffs — ensures that PFAS liability will remain a major area of legal activity for decades.