More than $200 million from a settlement with Exxon-Mobil over MTBE contamination has been set aside for funding these projects.
Robert Scott is the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services. Morning Edition Host Rick Ganley spoke with him about issues with drinking water in the state.
Ultimately through the court and all the process in the court, the state was awarded what amounts to today, with interest, over $278 million, and that is the funding for the trust fund that you mentioned.
There’s 21 drinking water infrastructure projects.
You know there’s PFOA, and of course MTBE contamination in particular.
But we have a lot of MTBE, especially contamination Atkinson. And that would really involve getting infrastructure so we can get people with contaminated water on their private wells on the public drinking water systems ideally.
I can’t drink this water.
There’s a potential for those who need it, and maybe getting public water, meaning a pipe coming to your house, maybe is not practical.