New Hampshire is set to receive $65 million from a settlement with chemical manufacturers 3M and DuPont, marking a significant victory in the state’s ongoing battle against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. These funds, which are expected over the next two to three years, will be directed towards the state's Drinking Water and Ground Water Trust Fund, helping public water systems across the Granite State address the widespread issue of PFAS pollution.
For the water well drilling industry, this settlement is particularly impactful. Drilling professionals are often on the front lines of water quality issues, and this influx of funding will likely lead to increased demand for drilling services to establish new, safer wells or to retrofit existing ones with PFAS-removal technologies. The settlement is yet another step towards properly monitoring and mitigating PFAS contaminants in groundwater—a responsibility that increasingly falls to drilling and environmental professionals when the community leaders and major corporations with the most PFAS contamination under their belts must also be on board.
State officials, including Rep. Tim McGough, R-Merrimack, have long voiced concerns about the health risks associated with PFAS. "It's a huge issue. People shouldn't live in fear from drinking water right out of the tap," said Rep. Tim McGough. McGough noted that the public's fear and uncertainty regarding drinking water safety have driven the state’s legislative efforts to set stringent PFAS limits over the past five years. This settlement is a critical step in holding polluters accountable and ensuring that the financial burden of cleanup does not fall on taxpayers.
Chris Aslin, senior assistant attorney general, highlighted that while this settlement is a significant achievement, it only addresses public water systems, and further litigation is ongoing to secure funds for private well owners, "We have a ways to go, but we're hoping to bring in significantly more funds to help clean up the mess." For drilling contractors and water quality experts, this ongoing litigation could lead to future opportunities and responsibilities in addressing PFAS contamination across public and private water systems.
The implications of this settlement extend beyond New Hampshire as well, as it sets a precedent for nationwide PFAS-related litigation and cleanup efforts. As the drilling industry continues to navigate the challenges posed by PFAS contamination, the lessons learned, and the technologies developed in response to these challenges will be critical in ensuring safe drinking water for all.
