Written by Brian Beck + Legally reviewed by William Ettenger, Esq. | Last Updated: November 3, 2026
What is the PFAS water contamination lawsuit? Individuals and communities are suing chemical manufacturers including 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, and BASF, alleging PFAS in firefighting foam (AFFF) and industrial discharge contaminated drinking water and caused serious illness. Federal personal-injury claims are consolidated in MDL 2873 before Judge Richard M. Gergel in the District of South Carolina.
⚖️ Legally reviewed by William Ettenger, Esq.
The 3M PFAS Personal-Injury Settlement
On November 3, 2026, 3M announced a broad resolution of the PFAS personal-injury claims at the center of the AFFF MDL. Here is what has been made public so far:
- 💰 $7.35 billion over nine years, with payments running through 2034 (about $5.8 billion in present value)
- 👥 About 99% of current claims inside and outside the MDL, covering roughly 115,000 to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs, according to 3M
- 🏦 A $680 million reserve fund to handle remaining and future personal-injury claims
- 📋 New rules for future claimants: 3M expects the MDL court to issue an order setting evidence and timing requirements for people who file later
- ⚖️ No admission of liability, and payments depend on plaintiffs choosing to participate
This agreement covers 3M only. Claims against other manufacturers are separate. Earlier settlements with public water systems (over $12 billion combined from 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, and BASF) paid utilities for cleanup and did not compensate individuals.
Disclaimer: Individual payment amounts and the claims process have not been announced. Nothing on this page is a guarantee of qualification, compensation, or outcome.
Who May Qualify
Eligibility centers on documented PFAS exposure combined with a confirmed diagnosis. You can pursue a claim for yourself or on behalf of a loved one, including in cases of wrongful death.
The strongest case profile: years of residence or service at a documented high-PFAS site, a confirmed qualifying diagnosis, no major alternative cause, and records establishing the timeline.
How PFAS Contamination Happened
PFAS chemicals were prized for decades for resisting heat, oil, and water. Lawsuits allege manufacturers knew of the health risks and continued production and sale without adequate warning.
AFFF Firefighting Foam at Military Bases and Airports
For decades, the military and civilian airports used AFFF, a PFAS-based foam, in fire training and emergency response. The Department of Defense has identified PFAS in soil or groundwater at a large share of U.S. installations.
Industrial and Manufacturing Discharge
Companies that produced or used PFAS, including 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva, allegedly discharged the chemicals into waterways and groundwater near their facilities, contaminating nearby public water systems.
Manufacturer Knowledge and Failure to Warn
Internal documents surfaced in litigation indicate manufacturers were aware of PFAS toxicity for years but continued production without adequately warning the public, regulators, or downstream users like fire departments and military branches.
Consumer Product Exposure
PFAS has also turned up in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and food packaging, though drinking-water and AFFF exposure remain the primary basis for personal-injury litigation.
Injuries and Conditions in Claims
The bellwether process in MDL 2873 focused on kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis. Other conditions have been raised in claims as well.
Military Bases With Reported PFAS Contamination
Exposure claims often turn on which installation a claimant lived, worked, or served at. The table below shows some of the highest PFAS readings reported in Department of Defense and EPA site sampling, in parts per trillion (ppt). These are mostly groundwater and on-site samples, not tap water. For context, the EPA's enforceable drinking-water limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt each.
| Base | State | Highest Site Reading (ppt) ▼ |
|---|---|---|
| England Air Force Base | Louisiana | 20,700,000 |
| Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake | California | 8,000,000 |
| Dover Air Force Base | Delaware | 4,338,000 |
| Myrtle Beach Air Force Base | South Carolina | 2,640,000 |
| Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam | Hawaii | 2,620,000 |
| Langley Air Force Base | Virginia | 2,225,000 |
| Fort Stewart / Hunter Army Airfield | Georgia | 2,100,000 |
| Naval Air Station Jacksonville | Florida | 1,397,120 |
| Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station | New York | 1,310,000 |
| Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex | Texas | 1,247,000 |
| Altus Air Force Base | Oklahoma | 1,150,000 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | South Carolina | 1,150,000 |
| Barksdale Air Force Base | Louisiana | 1,100,000 |
| Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme | California | 1,080,000 |
| Plattsburgh Air Force Base | New York | 1,045,000 |
| Mather Air Force Base | California | 910,000 |
| Tyndall Air Force Base | Florida | 902,460 |
| West Bend Armory | Wisconsin | 871,000 |
| Sheppard Air Force Base | Texas | 850,000 |
| Columbus Air Force Base | Mississippi | 810,700 |
| Chanute Air Force Base | Illinois | 806,000 |
| Marine Corps Air Station Tustin | California | 770,000 |
| Joint Base San Antonio | Texas | 767,000 |
| Travis Air Force Base | California | 712,000 |
| Dyess Air Force Base | Texas | 702,000 |
| Eglin Air Force Base | Florida | 552,200 |
| Ellsworth Air Force Base | South Dakota | 551,000 |
| MacDill Air Force Base | Florida | 523,710 |
| Naval Air Station Oceana | Virginia | 493,600 |
| Minot Air Force Base | North Dakota | 453,000 |
| Fort Smith Municipal Airport | Arkansas | 412,000 |
| Klamath Falls International Airport | Oregon | 401,000 |
| Moody Air Force Base | Georgia | 375,000 |
| Westover Air Reserve Base | Massachusetts | 360,000 |
| Eaker Air Force Base | Arkansas | 359,000 |
| Jacksonville International Airport | Florida | 337,000 |
| Naval Air Station Alameda | California | 336,000 |
| Eielson Air Force Base | Alaska | 334,200 |
Tap any column header to sort. The table loads with the highest reading first.
Each figure is the highest single detection reported for that site across available test rounds. Levels vary by date, lab, and sampling location, and a high site reading does not mean drinking water reached that level. This is not a complete list: most U.S. installations have tested positive for PFAS at some level.
Deadlines for Filing a PFAS Lawsuit
Every state has its own statute of limitations for personal-injury and product-liability claims, and the discovery rule may extend it based on when you reasonably connected your illness to PFAS exposure. The 3M settlement adds a new factor: 3M expects the court to set evidence and timing requirements for people who file after the current claims. If you think you may have a claim, speak with an attorney soon about your state's deadline and these new requirements.
Find Out If You Qualify: Free Case Review
Attorneys are evaluating PFAS claims nationwide. You pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
Start My Free Case ReviewPFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit Updates
Last updated November 3, 2026. We update this section with new filings, settlements, and regulatory action.
How the PFAS Lawsuit Process Works
Attorneys accept PFAS cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
- Free confidential consultation: discuss where you lived, worked, or served, and your diagnosis, with an attorney at no cost.
- Confirming your exposure site: your attorney cross-references your location against known contamination data.
- Documenting your diagnosis: your attorney gathers medical records showing the diagnosis, treatment, and timeline.
- Deadline analysis: your attorney checks your state's statute of limitations and any new court requirements for future claimants.
- Filing your claim: your attorney files in the AFFF MDL (2873) or an appropriate state court.
- Settlement participation: where eligible, your attorney evaluates whether to participate in an available settlement program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PFAS water contamination lawsuit?
Individuals and communities are suing chemical manufacturers, including 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, and BASF, alleging PFAS "forever chemicals" in firefighting foam and industrial discharge contaminated drinking water and caused serious illness. Federal personal-injury claims are consolidated in MDL 2873 in South Carolina.
Who qualifies for a PFAS lawsuit?
You may qualify if you lived, worked, trained, or served near a military base, airport, or industrial site with documented PFAS contamination, were exposed for a meaningful period, and were diagnosed with a condition such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, or ulcerative colitis.
Is there a settlement for PFAS personal-injury claims?
Yes. On November 3, 2026, 3M announced a $7.35 billion agreement, paid over nine years, to resolve PFAS personal-injury claims tied to the AFFF litigation. 3M says it covers about 99% of current claims and includes a $680 million reserve for remaining and future claims. Individual payment amounts have not been announced.
How do I know if my base or town had high PFAS levels?
Department of Defense and EPA testing covers hundreds of installations and water systems. See the base table above for some of the highest reported site readings, and speak with an attorney to confirm your specific location's testing history.
How much is a PFAS lawsuit worth?
Individual payment amounts under the 3M settlement have not been released. Compensation potential generally depends on diagnosis type, documentation quality, and exposure duration.
