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File #: BL2025-1019   
Type: Bill (Ordinance) Status: First Reading
File created: 8/21/2025 In control: Metropolitan Council
On agenda: 9/2/2025 Final action:
Title: An ordinance accepting and appropriating Public Water System Settlement Funds from the 3M Company to the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services.
Sponsors: Kyonzte Toombs, Quin Evans-Segall, Burkley Allen
Attachments: 1. Payment Letter

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An ordinance accepting and appropriating Public Water System Settlement Funds from the 3M Company to the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services.

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WHEREAS, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) are a large and diverse group of man_made chemicals that have unique properties, such as resistance to high and low temperatures, resistance to degradation, and non-stick characteristics; and,

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, through the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services, joined a class action lawsuit against 3M Company (“3M”) over contamination to U.S. public water drinking systems; and,

WHEREAS, 3M has agreed to settle water provider claims on a claims-wide basis (“3M Public Water System Settlement”); and,

WHEREAS, though MWS has detected trace amounts of PFAS in source water, MWS has never detected PFAS in finished drinking water, and is committed to removing PFAS to protect the public health and safety of citizens of Nashville and Davidson County; and,

WHEREAS, though MWS will receive a partial payment in the amount of $644,832.60, the anticipated full settlement amount is approximately $3.8 million dollars; and,

WHEREAS, MWS will also receive a PFAS settlement from DuPont; and,

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County to accept the Public Water System Settlement funds.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1.                     The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, through the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services, is hereby authorized to accept the Public Water System Settlement Funds and appropriate $644,832.60 in Public Water System Settlement Funds from the 3M Company into the Water and Sewer Revenue Fund No. 67311 Business Unit 65525000.

Section 2.                     That the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, through the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services, is hereby authorized to accept any additional Public Water System Settlement Funds from the 3M Company and DuPont and to appropriate the funds to the Water and Sewer Revenue Fund No. 67311 Business Unit 65525000.

Section 3.                     That the director of the Department of Water and Sewerage Services or his designee is authorized to execute such documents as may be necessary to accept and appropriate Public Water System Settlement Funds as authorized by this ordinance.

Section 4.                     Amendments to this legislation shall be approved by resolution.

Section 5.                     This ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.