Veolia Settles Flint Water Lawsuits for $53M

Veolia Settles Flint Water Lawsuits for $53M

Introduction

An engineering company, Veolia North America, has agreed to pay $53 million to settle remaining lawsuits related to the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. This settlement follows previous agreements totaling $26.3 million with the company and a larger $626 million settlement from the state of Michigan and other entities.

Denial of Responsibility

Veolia has consistently denied any responsibility for the crisis, emphasizing that it was only briefly hired as a consultant months after Flint switched its water source to the Flint River in 2014. The water was not treated to prevent corrosion, leading to lead contamination from old pipes.

Criticism of Veolia’s Role

Critics argue that Veolia could have done more before the state and city officials reversed the decision in fall 2015, returning Flint to a regional water supplier. By then, lead levels in children had risen. However, Veolia maintains that government officials were responsible and that the company had no role in the water switch or the operation of the Flint water plant.

Settlement Terms

Veolia described the settlement as a practical resolution rather than an admission of responsibility, citing the desire to avoid prolonged litigation. The Michigan attorney general’s office stated that the $53 million will be distributed among approximately 26,000 affected residents. Additionally, the state will dismiss its separate lawsuit against Veolia as part of the agreement.

Closure for Flint Residents

Michigan’s attorney general expressed that this settlement marks the conclusion of years of legal battles, providing long-awaited closure for Flint residents affected by the crisis.