3M reaches tentative $10.3 billion deal over US 'forever chemicals' claims

3M Co has reached a $10.3 billion settlement with a host of U.S. public water systems to resolve water pollution claims tied to "forever chemicals," the chemical company announced on Thursday.

The company said the settlement would provide the funds over a 13-year period to cities, towns and other public water systems to test and treat contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

3M, which is facing thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination, did not admit liability, and said the money will help support remediation at public water systems that detect PFAS "at any level."

"We have reached the largest drinking water settlement in American history, which will be used to help filter PFAS from drinking water that is served to the public," Scott Summy, a lead attorney for the water systems suing 3M, said in a statement. "The result is that millions of Americans will have healthier lives without PFAS in their drinking water."

3M had been scheduled to face a test trial in South Carolina federal court earlier this month in a lawsuit brought by Stuart, Florida. The judge overseeing the case delayed the trial the morning it was set to start.