PFAS

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PFAS Webinar Image from Slides for Website

The webinar on PFAS class action settlement between public water providers and 3M and DuPont that was held on October 31st, 2023 by attorneys from Napoli Shkolnik, a firm involved in the class action. The webinar covered important settlement details, including the important time frames relating to the settlement. The League’s hosting of this webinar does not constitute endorsement of Napoli Shkolnik.

Watch the webinar on the League's YouTube channel

Download webinar

View webinar slide deck

FAQs and Answers

Municipalities must soon decide how to proceed in a class action lawsuit brought by public water providers against 3M and DuPont, which has a preliminarily approved settlement. Prior to the deadlines, municipalities must evaluate the settlement to decide whether to 1) opt out, or 2) stay in and file a claim. The settlement contains significant liability releases and municipal decisions have important implications and consequences. Municipalities that do not opt out but do not file a claim will be giving up significant rights. 

Resources: settlement allocation table and settlement website.

Municipal Water Coalition 

The coalition is comprised of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Rural Water Association, Municipal Environmental Group – Wastewater Division, the Municipal Environmental Group – Water Division, and the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association an alliance of groups representing municipal water and wastewater utilities. 

The Municipal Water Coalition’s goals are:

•    To work collaboratively with DNR on developing science based PFAS standards that consider relative cost, benefit, and feasibility of different PFAS removal and treatment options. 

•    To work collaboratively with DNR and industry stakeholders to find ways to reduce sources of PFAS before they enter public water or sewer systems. 

•    To educate the public about the background presence of PFAS in our homes and environment from common household products and make clear that drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities are not producers or users of PFAS, but only recipients of the compounds.

The Municipal Water Coalition consists of municipal utilities providing the most essential of public services - safe drinking water and wastewater treatment. We acknowledge and fully embrace our role as environmental and public health stewards committed to ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation services now and for future generations. To that end, we support legislative actions and regulations intended to ensure safe delivery of these critical services if they are based on credible science and developed after due deliberation. 

Municipal Water Coalition Articles

PFAS and Wisconsin Drinking Water (PDF) by Lawrie Kobza in the March 2021 The Municipality

PFAS and Wastewater Facilities (PDF) by Paul Kent in the March 2021 The Municipality

General Information on PFAS

American Water Works Association Briefing Paper on PFAS (PDF) 2019
Additional resources on the American Water Works PFAS website

The Wisconsin Legislative Council issue brief on PFAS October, 2019

Wisconsin DNR PFAS Technical Advisory Group 
The PFAS Technical Advisory Group is a working group formed in 2019 to discuss issues related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Wisconsin. The group does not have an appointed membership; any interested party may attend and meetings are open to the public. The group will meet on a quarterly basis, with additional subgroup meetings scheduled as needed.

Governor’s PFAS Executive Order. Governor Evers issued an executive order instructing state agencies to address water contamination from PFAS. August 22, 2019

What are PFAS? Where can they be found? What are possible health concerns with PFAS? What are current exposure limits for PFAS in drinking water? Background on PFAS Contamination (PDF) July 24, 2019 

Update on Recent PFAS Regulatory and Legislative Activities (PDF) July 24, 2019

PFAS Talking Points (PDF) July 24, 2019 


The National League of Cities (NLC) partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (AAAS EPI Center) to offer a stakeholder engagement summit. Topics related to water pollution and management, including contamination from persistent chemicals such as PFAS were discussed. The summit included an opportunity to connect with scientific experts actively working to address PFAS, explore whether the existing scientific evidence is accessible and useful for decision-makers, and address the specific concerns of participants.

(Jerry Deschane attended this Summit in Washington DC on Feb. 7, 2020.) 

NLC Summit Resources.