How to apply for funds from the Philly Water Settlement
Philadelphia residents affected by last year’s chemical spill in the Delaware River are running out of time to claim their share of the $2.7 million compensation agreed to earlier this year.
That amount amounts to at least $25 per person who survived the “Philadelphia Wooder Wars of 2023” – a joke and briefly a t-shirt by local artist GRIMGRIMGRIM as people rushed to buy bottled water – but every drop counts!
The deadline to submit a claim online is 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 16. After reviewing the form ourselves, we’ve put together a quick guide to show you what information you’ll need to submit your claim as quickly as possible.
What happened again?
As you may recall, it was Sunday afternoon on March 26 when an emergency alert was sent to cellphones that Philadelphia residents should avoid drinking or cooking with tap water because of a chemical spill in Bucks County. The alert was extended day by day as authorities cleaned up the water supply each day.
According to the chemical company, hazardous substances were released shortly before midnight Friday after an equipment failure at Trinseo Altuglas’ Bristol Township manufacturing facility, causing more than 8,000 gallons (33,000 liters) of latex emulsion chemicals to spill into Otter Creek.
The creek flows into the Delaware River, which supplies water to the eastern half of Philadelphia.
According to Deputy Executive Director Mike Carroll, no contamination was detected in Philadelphia’s water system during the entire panic.
There were never any concerns about skin contact or inhalation, Carroll said, and the city issued its initial warning against drinking the water out of an “abundance of caution.”
What is the Philly Water Settlement?
A class action lawsuit, McGraw et al. v. Altuglas LLC et al. alleged that class members—that is, us!—suffered economic harm as a result of the release of chemicals into the Delaware River and as a result of the public notices and drinking water warnings issued in connection with that release.
Altugas is the Bristol Township manufacturing facility where equipment failed and chemicals were released.
A compensation fund of US$2.7 million has been established to make payments to eligible individuals.
The base payment of $25 per person can be adjusted in certain cases if people provide documentation showing that additional damages are owed due to economic harm exceeding $25. Examples of additional damages could include a business losing customers or having to close for a period of time, or a person having to buy more water or other appliances as a direct result.
Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone living or working in the following zip code areas: 19102, 19103, 19106, 19107, 19109, 19111, 19112, 19114, 19115, 19116, 19119, 19120, 19121, 19122, 19123, 19124, 19125, 19126, 19128, 19129, 19130, 19132, 19133, 19134, 19135, 19136, 19137, 19138, 19140, 19141, 19144, 19145, 19146, 19147, 19148, 19149, 19152, 19154.
How to file a claim
Go to PhillyWaterSettlement.com and click on the “Submit a Claim” tab. If you received a personalized notice in the mail with a notification ID and verification code, enter the codes in the text boxes. If you did not receive a notice, simply click the blue “Claim Form” button.
Part I contains your name, address, phone number and email address. There are two address fields – one for your current address and one for your address in March 2023.
Part II is the proof of financial loss section. This is where you can describe the expenses for which you are seeking reimbursement. If you do not have proof of your economic loss, this section can be left blank as long as you sign the bottom of the form to certify your accuracy.
In Part III, upload any receipts or other documentation that supports expenses equal to the base payment of $25 or more. Accepted file types are: PDF, TIF, JPG, GIF, and PNG.
In the fourth part, you choose how you would like to receive your settlement money. The options are:
- A prepaid MasterCard – your email address is required
- Venmo – this requires your phone number or email address
- Direct deposit – your bank code and account number are required
- Zelle – this requires your email address or phone number
- A paper check — this requires your phone number and patience as it takes 1-3 weeks longer than the other payment distribution options
In the fifth part, sign that you are telling the truth. Then click “Send” and save your email confirmation!
When will the payment arrive?
Some time after the final court approval hearing on September 23, 2024.
