Manitowoc Public Utilities is being allowed to stay in a PFAS lawsuit.
The Manitowoc Common Council approved allowing the local utility to stay in the lawsuit after a closed-session discussion during a Committee of the Whole meeting last week.
Water System Manager Rob Michaelson tells Seehafer News there are four companies that have settlements for allowing PFAS into the environment.
PFAS, or forever chemicals as they’re also known, are chemicals that can’t break down easily in the environment and can end up in places like water utilities.
Michaelson explains that there were benefits to staying in the lawsuit.
“Lake Michigan’s PFAS levels are very low,” he explained. “They’re lower than the EPA’s action level limit. So, we don’t anticipate any issues with PFAS from Lake Michigan.”
If the city gets some money from the lawsuit, Michaelson says, “We anticipate putting into our water utility reserves. Anticipating any kind of upgrades for the water utility, or, even addressing other regulatory concerns we would have here in our water industry.”
Companies like 3M, BASF, and Tyco Fire resolved lawsuits against for affecting the environment with PFAS.
Over $1 billion could be paid out to resolve the claims.
