Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023–5:31 p.m.

-John Bailey, Rome News-Tribune-

A settlement between chemical companies, carpet manufacturers and others involved in a water pollution lawsuit filed by the city of Rome will amount to more than $100 million, according to a Bloomberg News report.

The story by Bloomberg’s Jef Feeley, comes after the Rome City Commission voted to accept settlements in the case earlier this week. The trial was scheduled to begin Monday in Floyd County Superior Court. 

The lawsuit sought to recoup some, or all, of the costs incurred by the city and water department customers to completely remove PFAS and PFOAS from drinking water.

The story cites the ballpark amount while stating the information is derived from a person familiar with the matter. Coincidentally, that $100 million figure is the approximate cost to build a new reverse osmosis filtration plant to remove the chemicals from Rome’s drinking water.

A conference is scheduled for Friday with Floyd County Superior Court Judge Bryan Johnson. If all the parties say they have an agreement, then the trial — which was expected to last for several weeks — will be canceled.

The lawsuit, filed in 2019, involved 50-plus defendants. Most of those have already settled although the financial aspects of those settlements have not yet been released. During a called city commission meeting on Tuesday, City Attorney Andy Davis announced that the remaining defendants including Shaw Industries, 3M, Daikin America, DuPont, the Chemours Company, Mohawk, Aladdin Manufacturing Co., Engineered Floors LLC and Dalton Utilities have agreed to settle the case. 

“The city has reached agreements with all the defendants in principle, specifically with Dalton Utilities and others,” Davis said during the Tuesday meeting. “All of those agreements have not been finalized… but it’s a great day for the city of Rome.”

While the financial aspects of those settlements are worked through, Rome water customers will continue to pay the increased rates intended to pay for the new water filtration plant. 

Rome’s water and sewer systems are funded by their customers, not general tax dollars which means that initial cost, alongside another $3.07 million annually in operating costs fell to taxpayers.

This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com.