A federal judge has authorized the distribution of funds from the $626 million Flint, Mich., water crisis settlement, paving the way for more than 26,000 claimants to receive payments. The settlement includes contributions from the state of Michigan, Flint's insurance companies, McLaren Flint Hospital and Rowe Professional Services, with Veolia North America adding $53 million. Litigation against the Environmental Protection Agency continues and could increase the settlement amount.

Louisville Water has traced a spike in the GenX PFAS contaminant in its drinking water to a Chemours factory in West Virginia, 400 miles away. The utility's investigation found that the spike corresponded with Chemours' discharge data, although Chemours denies a connection. The Environmental Protection Agency has cited Chemours for exceeding legal discharge limits. The utility's water quality director, Peter Goodmann, says current PFAS levels are within federal safety limits, but the incident highlights the challenges utilities face in managing contaminants.

The latest National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision from the House that delays the phaseout of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The legislation allows the Defense Department to purchase the foam through 2026 and use it through 2028 with waivers.

McAllen, Texas, has launched a $300 million water desalination initiative to secure a sustainable water supply for the city and its neighboring communities. The project is a response to increasing water demands and climate challenges, aiming to diversify water sources and ensure long-term resilience. The first phase involves drilling test wells to evaluate water capacity and quality before construction begins.

The New Mexico Environment Department has partnered with Asterra on a $1 million, four-year initiative to identify leaks in drinking water infrastructure using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence. The program aims to assist small community water systems, which often lack resources to detect and repair leaks, as part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's 50-year water action plan to address water shortages, which are exacerbated by climate change and drought.