Water pollution incidents take place on construction sites when there is a lack of proper planning. There are mainly three sources from a construction site that can adversely affect the watercourses: the release of chemicals or hydrocarbons, silt pollution, and the release of waste matter in water, like building materials and litter.

While the construction is on, activities like demolition and grading generate pollutants that can affect the waterways. One of the principal pollutants to worry about is sediment. As it rains, stormwater passes through the loose soil at the construction site besides multiple materials and products stored outside.

When stormwater flows on the construction site, it might pick up several pollutants as:

•  Debris
•  Spilled fluids
•  Chemicals
•  Sediment
•  Loose soil

They can be shifted to the storm drains close by or directly to the local lakes, creeks, and reservoirs.

In this context, it is interesting to note that the waters at Camp Lejeune were also polluted by toxic chemicals. During the first half of 1980, two water supply systems in North Carolina got contaminated with harmful industrial solvents perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE).

In this article, we will talk about the water pollution at Camp Lejeune and the best practices to keep water bodies secure from getting contaminated because of construction work. 

The Camp Lejeune Water Pollution

The water systems in Camp Lejeune were supplied by Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace water-treatment plants that served the residents. The Hadnot Point water system catered to the industrial and base hospital areas, along with supplying water to the housing on Holcomb Boulevard water system.

Both off-base and on-base chemical leaks and spills resulted in water pollution in this region. A prominent source was the improper waste disposal practices carried out by ABC One-Hour Cleaners. This business used to dump the drains with chemicals that were used for dry cleaning. Here, the septic tank released chemicals into the groundwater and soil, which resulted in acute health hazards, ranging from cancer to fertility issues.

According to the National Research Council, other sources of contamination included spills at various industrial sites and leaks from storage tanks located underground. Therefore, people who have suffered because of the toxic water exposure can seek legal aid and expect the Camp Lejeune lawsuit payout per person to cover their economic and non-economic damages.

According to TorHoerman Law, it's best to work with a lawyer to get the settlement amount. As a layperson, you wouldn’t know much about the legal procedures and might get lost trying to receive fair compensation. Therefore, allowing a lawyer to decide on your eligibility and thereby building a solid case to ensure that you receive compensation is a wise decision.

Preventive Measures: Best Practices to Safeguard Water Bodies

To reduce the negative effects of construction work on nearby water bodies, the concerned companies need to embrace a few best practices. Some of the vital preventive measures to implement are:

Sediment and Erosion Control

This is an essential practice that stops soil runoff into the water bodies located nearby. A few steps to implement here include:

•  Installation of sediment barriers, for instance, sediment basins or silt fences for trapping sediments and averting entry to the water bodies.
•  Make use of erosion control blankets for stabilizing the soil that has been exposed and also avoiding erosion.
•  Executing correct stormwater management procedures, for instance, using vegetative swales and constructing retention ponds for slowing down the runoff and filtering the sediments.

Correct Chemical Management and Disposal

Construction projects usually use multiple chemicals, like solvents, paints, and adhesives. To prevent water pollution, it is necessary to manage and dispose of these chemicals correctly. A few best practices include:

•  Keeping the chemicals in tight-sealed containers so that there are no leaks.
•  Making use of spill containment systems and absorbents for responding to leaks and spills.
•  Correctly disposing of the chemical waste based on local guidelines and regulations.

Securing Riparian Zones

Simply put, riparian zones are essential land areas that surround water bodies, which have crucial ecological functions. Securing these areas at the time of construction is necessary. The best practices to keep riparian zones secure are:

•  Developing buffer zones surrounding water bodies to reduce the effect on riparian vegetation.
•  Implementing erosion control initiatives, like revegetation or mulching, for stabilizing soil in the riparian regions.
•  Reducing disturbance in the riparian zones by managing the construction staging and making use of alternate access routes.

In conclusion, construction projects can have side effects on water bodies, which include habitat destruction, pollution, and soil erosion. Therefore, it is crucial to implement the best practices, like sediment and erosion control, securing riparian zones, and correct management of chemicals, to ensure that these effects are minimized.