Time’s running out for Philly residents affected by last year’s chemical spill in the Delaware River to get their portion of the $2.7 million settlement agreed to earlier this year by manufacturing facility Altuglas LLC.
That amount comes to at least $25 per person who survived the “Philadelphia Wooder Wars of 2023” — a joke and, briefly, 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, and after examining the form ourselves, we’ve got a quick guide to what info you need to submit your own claim ASAP.
What happened again?
If you recall, it was the middle of a Sunday afternoon on March 26 when an emergency alert went out to mobile phones that Philadelphians may want to avoid drinking or cooking with tap water because of a chemical spill in Bucks County. The warning kept getting extended day by day, as officials cleared each day’s water supply.
Hazardous materials were released after an equipment failure at the Trinseo Altuglas manufacturing facility in Bristol Township just before midnight Friday, causing more than 8,000 gallons of latex emulsion chemicals to pour into Otter Creek, according to the chemical company.
The creek flows into the Delaware River, which supplies water to the eastern half of Philadelphia.
Throughout the scare, no contamination was ever found in Philly’s water system, according to Deputy Managing Director Mike Carroll.
There was never a concern over skin exposure, or inhalation, Carroll said, and the city issued its initial advisory about ingesting 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’s us! — suffered economic harm as a result of the release of chemicals in the Delaware River, as well as from the public notice and drinking water advisories issued in connection with that release.
Altugas is the manufacturing facility in Bristol Township where the equipment failed and chemicals were released.
A settlement fund of $2.7 million was created to provide payments to eligible individuals.
The base payment of $25 per person may be adjusted in certain cases, and if people provide documentation showing additional damages are owed due to economic harm greater than $25. Examples of additional damages could include a business losing customers or having to close for a period of time or an individual having to purchase more water or other equipment as a direct result.
Who is eligible?
Anyone living or working in the following Zip Codes: 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 submit a claim
Go to PhillyWaterSettlement.com and click on the Submit Claim tab. If you received a personalized notice in the mail with a Notice ID and Confirmation Code, enter the codes into the text boxes. If you didn’t get a mailer, just click the blue “Claim Form” button.
Part I is for your name, address, phone number, and email. There are two address spots — one for your current address and one for your address during March 2023.
Part II is the proof of financial harm section. You can describe your expense here that you seek reimbursement for. If you don’t have proof of your economic loss, this section can be left blank, as long as you sign the form’s bottom attesting to your truthfulness.
Part III is where you upload any receipts or other documentation that shows expenses at or above the $25 base payment. Accepted file types are: PDF, TIF, JPG, GIF, and PNG.
Part IV is where you pick how you want to get your settlement money. The options are:
- A prepaid MasterCard — this requires your email
- Venmo — this requires your phone number or email
- Direct Deposit — this requires your bank routing number and account number
- Zelle — this requires your email or phone number
- A Paper Check — this requires your phone number and patience because it will take 1-3 more weeks than the other payment distribution options
Part V is where you sign to promise you’re telling the truth. Then hit Submit and save your email confirmation!
When will the payment arrive?
Some time after the court’s final approval hearing on September 23, 2024.
