Jasper, Ferdinand receive funds from Atrazine settlement | News

As a result of the $105 million settlement of a class action lawsuit over atrazine, some local water departments will be receiving sizable checks.

Jasper Municipal Utilities has received $110,466.33 while the Ferdinand Water Department has received $20,423.43 to help reimburse costs of removing the weed killer from its community water system.  Atrazine is sprayed on corn and other crops and frequently runs off of fields and into waterways used as drinking water sources.

The Ferdinand Water Department closed its water treatment plant on October 14, 1998, and began purchasing water wholesale from Patoka Lake Regional Water.  The atrazine monitoring covered in this settlement was from March 1995 to August 1998.

This settlement was meant to help reimburse communities for past expenses associated with the removal of atrazine.  According to lead attorney Stephen M. Tillery the percentage of participation by class members was unprecedented.  “Every cent of the settlement fund will be distributed to class members,” Tillery said.  “The scope of this settlement is enormous.”