Water officials in Tucson say the city has started receiving settlement funds from a class action lawsuit against major manufacturers of a firefighting foam that contains PFAS. The human-made chemicals don’t break down naturally and are linked to cancer and other health issues.
A firefighting foam called AFFF that contains PFAS has been used for decades at military sites and airports — including in Tucson. The chemicals seeped in groundwater and caused contamination.
At the mayor and council meeting this week, Tucson Water Director John Kmiec said Tucson is now receiving funds from a lawsuit against companies that produce products with PFAS — like 3M and Dupont.
“Our first installment amounted to nearly $4.9 million, representing 20% of our anticipated share from the largest settlement pool,” he said during the Tuesday meeting.
Tucson has spent more than $50 million of its own money on PFAS remediation so far. Kmiec says some two dozen wells remain shut off due to the contamination.
“Several major projects are underway to treat PFAS contamination at its source. The Randolph Park groundwater treatment facility began drilling a new well last year. No further work is needed due to lower than expected yields from the first well,” he said.
Randolph Park is one of a handful of sites where water cleanup facilities are being newly built or updated to deal with PFAS.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s EPA rolled back regulations for several types of PFAS that had been introduced in 2024 under former President Joe Biden.
Under the new rules, water utilities have more time to come into compliance with the remaining types of PFAS that are still regulated. Kmiec said despite the change, Tucson will continue to follow its own stricter regulations on the chemicals.
