The engineering company said it agreed to pay $53 million to resolve all remaining lawsuits that alleged liability for lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, 10 years ago.
The deal between Veolia North America and Flint residents has won $26.3 million in previous settlements with the company and $626 million from Michigan and other parties.
Veolia denied responsibility for the pollution and repeatedly pointed out that Flint was temporarily hired as a consultant a few months after the city began pulling water from the Flint River in 2014.
The water was not treated to reduce corrosion, causing leaching from the old pipes.
Critics argued that Veolia could have done more before that. Rick Snyder and Flint switched the city's water source to local suppliers in the fall of 2015. By then, the tests had shown an increase in lead levels in children.
“This final settlement is by no means acknowledgement of liability, but it is the best resolution to avoid expensive, counterproductive, time-consuming litigation and bring closure to all involved parties,” Veolia said. It states.
The company said the Flint water crisis was “spurred by government officials.” Veolia said it had no role in operating the water switch or the flint water plant, and was told that water meets the standards.
According to the Michigan Attorney General's Office, the $53 million settlement will be distributed to approximately 26,000 people, represented by the law firm.
As part of the transaction, the state will dismiss its own lawsuit against Beolia.
“After years of drawing up legal battles, this settlement will ultimately close the Flint residents' chapter,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said.
