News Releases

News Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brandon Moore
bmoore@tampabaywater.org
(727) 791-2304 

CLEARWATER, Fla. (July 21, 2025) — Today, Tampa Bay Water’s litigation firm, Ventura Law, announced an estimated $21 million settlement in the class action lawsuit against manufacturers of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” Tampa Bay Water, at the direction of its Board of Directors, joined a class action lawsuit against manufacturers, sellers and distributors of PFAS in 2020 to protect its members and citizens from potential financial impacts related to sampling, testing and treatment.

“Our decision to pursue legal recourse has paid off handsomely for our rate payers and for our ability to provide safe and clean drinking water to the region,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa Bay Water Chairman, Harry Cohen.

“This is great news for Tampa Bay Water and every person served by our member governments,” said Chuck Carden, General Manager of Tampa Bay Water. “Thank you to our Board for standing up for the region’s residents.”

Ninety percent of the settlement has been decided and totals $21.7 million for Tampa Bay Water. The remainder, according to the attorneys, is expected to be determined in the near future and may provide an additional $2-4 million to Tampa Bay Water.

“It was back in 2019 that Tampa Bay Water’s Board of Directors joined the lawsuit to hold creators of PFAS accountable,” said Augie Ribeiro, Esq., Chief Executive Officer of Ventura Law. “Today, nearly six years after that decision, I am proud to say this is a victory for all of us who rely on our drinking water supply.”

3M Company (3M) and E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) settled collective claims against both manufacturers for drinking water contamination in Public Water Systems caused explicitly by “forever chemicals.” The settlements provided $12.5 billion from 3M and an additional $1.2 billion from DuPont in a separate settlement. Settlements with other manufacturers are also pending. The money could assist cities, towns, and other public water systems address PFAS contamination in drinking water. More details about the settlement can be found here.

Tampa Bay Water has tested the regional drinking water supply for PFAS since July 2023 and has found three locations to be slightly above EPA’s new regulatory limit of 4 parts per trillion, set to take effect in 2031. Tampa Bay Water is completing its Water Quality Study to make treatment recommendations to its Board of Directors later this year.

To watch the settlement announcement under agenda item B.2 from the July 21 board meeting, click here.

About Tampa Bay Water
Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.6 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org.