MARIETTA – Local water systems will receive millions of dollars from a $65 million settlement with DuPont over the release of “forver chemicals” into the Ohio River.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and state Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue announced the $65 million funding distribution from the environmental restoration settlement reached in 2023. Due to legal appeals, funding from the settlement had been delayed, according to a release from the state.

The settlement stemmed from the lawsuit filed by then-Attorney General DeWine against DuPont in 2018 for the accusation of DuPont knowingly releasing PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) from the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) chemical family into the Ohio River.

The lawsuit stated PFOAs were released into the air and water from the Washington Works facility located in Parkersburg. DuPont manufactured Teflon using PFOAs for over 60 years. PFOAs were linked to “serious health issues,” according to the release.

“Access to safe drinking water is essential for every Ohio community,” said DeWine in the release. “These funding awards will be used to make critical improvements to local water systems that will protect public health and strengthen drinking water infrastructure for years to come.”

The settlement funding will be distributed to Belmont, Gallia, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington Counties to support local water organizations within those counties.

State Rep. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, announced the specific distributions of the funds for Washington and Meigs counties.

“These projects are vital to strengthening water infrastructure in our communities and providing greater access to safe, clean drinking water for residents of Meigs and Washington Counties,” said Ritter in the release. “I’m pleased to see this funding directed where it will make a meaningful difference for Ohio families.”

The release said the funds would be distributed as follows:

* Little Hocking: Approximately $8.5 million that will assist the installment of waterline extensions to provide homeowners with PFAS-contaminated private wells and eliminate about 110 contaminated wells.

* Warren Community Water: Approximately $8 million that will add PFAS treatment to the existing water treatment plant along with the addition of a well. The treatment will benefit over 10,000 residents.

* Belpre: Approximately $6 million to install waterline extensions that will provide fresh water to residents whose wells were contaminated by PFAS. The project will remove 50 contaminated wells in Belpre.

* Marietta: Approximately $6 million in funding that will add PFAS treatment to the new water treatment plant in Marietta and benefit nearly 19,000 people.

* Beverly: Approximately $3 million in funds to support the construction of a new water treatment plant equipped with PFAS-removal capabilities to benefit nearly 2,000 individuals.

*Tri-County: Approximately $2 million in funding that will benefit about 3,000 residents by implementing PFAS treatment equipment to the existing water treatment plant.

* Tuppers Plains: Approximately $4 million to remove 81 contaminated wells and install waterline extensions to provide residents with clean water for their private wells.

*Middleport: Approximately $3 million in funding that will benefit nearly 2,500 residents by diminishing PFAS contamination in village wells.