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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies Contingencies
H2O America and its subsidiaries are subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business.
In October 2023, CWC, a subsidiary of H2O America, was named as a defendant in a putative class action lawsuit alleging that the water provided by CWC contained contaminants. The case is currently pending in the State of Connecticut Superior Court. CWC is vigorously defending itself in this lawsuit. H2O America is unable to provide a reasonable estimate of loss, if any, at this time.
SJWC and CWC are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against manufacturers and/or sellers of PFAS compounds for damages, contribution and reimbursement of costs incurred and continuing to be incurred to address the presence of such PFAS compounds in public water supply systems owned and operated by these utility subsidiaries and throughout their respective service areas. The lawsuit is part of Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), that commenced on December 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. MWC has submitted timely claims as a settlement class member.
On February 8, 2024, the MDL court approved settlements involving defendants The Chemours Company, Corteva, Inc., and DuPont de Nemours, Inc. to resolve claims brought in the MDL against them by public water systems, including SJWC and CWC. On March 29, 2024, the MDL court approved a similar settlement involving defendant 3M Company. On November 22, 2024, the MDL court approved settlements involving defendants Tyco Fire Products LP, and BASF Corporation. H2O America is entitled to a portion of the settlements and is monitoring and evaluating the ongoing litigation and settlement activity with the PFAS defendants for potential impacts to the various claims that these utility subsidiaries have asserted.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company received cash proceeds of $25.1 million, in connection with legal settlements with 3M Company and DuPont de Nemours, Inc. related to PFAS contamination. The proceeds were allocated as follows: SJWC received $17 million; CWC received $7.6 million; and MWC received $0.5 million, which includes $0.3 million payable to contract operators. The proceeds are compensatory in nature and are intended to compensate the Company for costs incurred, or to be incurred, to address the presence of PFAS compounds in public water supply systems or to be refunded to customers through rate reductions, and have been recorded as a regulatory liability subject to regulatory approval.
H2O America is entitled to receive additional cash proceeds from 3M Company in the subsequent eight years, pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement. In addition, the Company is party to class action settlements with Tyco Fire Products LP and BASF Corporation.
H2O America is monitoring and evaluating the ongoing litigation and settlement activity with the PFAS defendants for potential impacts to the various claims that these utility subsidiaries have asserted. However, the amount of any additional proceeds is not estimable as of the date of this filing.