Residents who selected the settlement water benefit connected to the Summerville drinking water lawsuit are being reminded that a critical deadline is approaching. Claimants must call Fontis Water at (678) 494-1981 to schedule a delivery appointment by January 31, 2026. Officials say anyone who fails to schedule by that date will forfeit the water benefit.

The water benefits stem from a class-action lawsuit filed in 2021 on behalf of Summerville water customers after testing revealed elevated levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the city’s water supply. PFAS—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—were found in the Raccoon Creek watershed, which supplies Summerville’s drinking water, at levels exceeding federal health guidelines.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in industrial and consumer products because they resist heat, oil, and water. However, they do not easily break down in the environment or the human body, and long-term exposure has been linked to a range of health concerns. The lawsuit alleged that residents were exposed to contaminated drinking water and sought temporary relief while long-term solutions were addressed.

As part of the settlement, eligible claimants were offered temporary clean drinking water benefits, including bottled water deliveries or water filtration systems. The benefit is not permanent and does not represent a final resolution of the broader contamination issue, but rather an interim measure to provide safe drinking water.

Officials say no new sign-ups are allowed for the water benefit program—only those who previously selected the option are eligible.

Another recent change affects the water filter option. The settlement is no longer offering filter installation services. Claimants who originally selected a filter may now choose to switch to bottled water or request that a filter be mailed for self-installation.

For those receiving bottled water, the benefit is provided as a rolling 12-month program, beginning after the first delivery. Missing a scheduled delivery may result in losing that month’s bottles. At the conclusion of the program, Fontis Water will retrieve the water stand and related equipment.

Settlement administrators are urging eligible residents to act promptly, confirm their selected option, and schedule their appointment well ahead of the January deadline to avoid losing access to the benefit.