As we reported last week, Santa Rosa Water...the city's public water utility--declined a national, multi-billion dollar settlement with manufacturer 3M over contamination by so-called forever chemicals....called PFAS 

PFAS are chemicals added to certain products to make them non-stick, repel water...or protect against stains and wrinkles.

They are allegedly hazardous because they don’t degrade in the environment and are linked to health issues such as low birth weight and liver disease, along with certain cancers.

So... why did Santa Rosa's public water utility decline to settle?

and should local residents be worried?

For answers,

KRCB reached out to Jennifer Burke, director of Santa Rosa Water, who said the deal would have come with too many unknowns...

photo credit: Courtesy of the Sierra Club
Infographic showing how minute amounts of PFAS chemicals, from everything from firefighting foam to non-stick pans move through the environment.