from Philadelphia to San Diego filter out 'forever chemicals' from drinking water supplies after thousands of its household items were tied to cancer

Manufacturing giant 3M has agreed to pay up to $12.5 billion in order to settle hundreds of lawsuits that allege its 'forever chemicals' contaminated cities' drinking water.

The settlement, reached Thursday will go towards ridding public water systems across the US of harmful chemicals allegedly leaked from the company's firefighting foam.

Around 300 municipalities, from Philadelphia to San Diego, say PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam leached into drinking water.

The foam used PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have been associated with cancers and other illnesses. PFAS have been found in thousands of other household products.