It’s relatively easy to understand how a chemical spill by local industry (factories, businesses, plants, etc.) can result in problems with local water. Given the sheer number of chemicals that can be involved in modern manufacturing and processing, it’s easy to see how a safety gaffe or unchecked maintenance matter can impact the environment. When chemicals leech into the community water table, the impact goes well beyond a single site or address.. The tragedy that can result from a chemical spill is tragic, yet often undiscovered until someone tests the local water.
WHY CHEMICAL SPILLS MATTER
First: chemicals as a whole are not to blame. Water treatment plans use a wide variety of chemicals to ensure the water we drink on a daily basis is healthy and clear of dangerous bacteria, substances, industrial byproducts and more. This issue is more about the ‘bad’ chemicals, those that get in the water unintentionally due to lackluster safety efforts or major industrial catastrophes. These chemicals are never intended to be consumed and are, instead, intended for major industrial efforts. Whether it’s machine cleaning, product development, factory byproducts, industrial waste, etc… the core issue remains what is suddenly spilling into the water and, for the most part, out of your faucet.
When these spills occur is often, tragically, much later than when the problem first started. The Flint water crisis is a recent example of how a community was let down by the governmental and private officials they rely upon to protect the city residents from contaminants. The people of Flint were forced to bring jugs of brown tinged water that came from their faucets to community meetings in order to finally bring attention to the issue. Even then, repeat denials from officials extended the problem, while inhibiting constructive solutions.
When an incident is first discovered, the stakes are sometimes seen as unimaginably great. Situations like the BP oil spill presented with damage that was immediately evident. In the days and weeks following a major tragedy, the evidence begins to pile up, sometimes literally. As a result, the news continues to develop and awareness about what the future holds seemingly creeps along.
In the event of a chemical spill, our first advice is to discontinue your family’s exposure until more is known or an all-clear is provided. Continued exposure can only worsen the impact an event can inflict. As the situation unfolds, be sure to document costs suffered, ranging from purchases of bottled water, filtration systems, doctor’s appointments, medications and more. Doing so can protect your ability to recover these costs, as well as document your health problems should they develop.
This is not a topic that is easy to discuss. A chemical spill is often a disaster of an unimaginable scale. Beyond the immediate damage to the site or environment, tragic consequences can unfold on local wildlife, businesses reliant on a healthy environment or city and more.
The most costly damage, though, can be in the long-term effects suffered by the community. If you have questions about a chemical spill in your area and want to protect the your rights, contact us today at (844) 820-0675 or fill out our online form. We'll put our firm’s experience in recovery due to long-term health problems to work for you and your family.