A group of New Jersey residents has reached a preliminary $8.3 million settlement with DuPont Chamber Works over claims that a chemical from the plant tainted drinking water.

The initial settlement, approved in a U.S. District Court, concerns a report that Salem County drinking water had an unhealthy level of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, that was used in a local DuPont facility for compounds on nonstick surfaces.

"Pending approval, the settlement funds will be used to provide each household in the class with an option to elect a water filter system or the cash equivalent," said Dan Turner, a spokesman for DuPont. The company has said the lawsuit is without merit.

Turner said DuPont does not produce PFOA at the plant but that the chemical does occur at trace levels as a byproduct in other goods made there. The company has tested for the chemical in the 2-mile radius of Chamber Works.

Approval of the settlement would free DuPont from an admission of wrongdoing (Phil Dunn, Salem County Today's Sunbeam, March 20). -- JP