Perhaps you are one of the many business owners who have taken advantage of the incentives to locate your project along the waterways of Georgia. The benefits of having water available may go beyond creating a breathtaking view. A ready source of water may be essential to manufacturing your product.
Of course, some manufacturers use water to dump their waste. Even those who don’t pour pollutants into a river may be responsible for poor disposal methods that result in toxins finding their way into tributaries and underground water sources. Sometimes it is years before anyone realizes the level of danger some pollutants pose to citizens who rely on the water for personal use.
Deadly pollutants
You may have read the recent studies confirming that carpet manufacturers using the chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluoroctane sulfonate in their products dumped dangerously high levels of the chemicals into the Conasauga River. For a while, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assured Georgians that the amounts of PFOA and PFOS in the water were below danger levels, but further study caused the agency to rescind that assurance. Researchers have linked water contaminated with the chemicals to a variety of health issues, including:
- Cancer
- Liver damage
- Compromised immune system
- Developmental issues in unborn and breastfed babies
Perhaps this health crisis has you thinking about the best practices your company can adopt for safe, environmentally friendly waste disposal. Currently, several cities west of Georgia have filed lawsuits against dozens of manufacturers that may be responsible for the polluted water that flows through their neighborhoods. If your company establishes environmentally conscious practices, you may avoid this kind of legal issue.
Forward-thinking businesses
When companies think of the bottom line before considering the damage they are doing to water supplies, the results can be catastrophic. Your children and grandchildren may have the responsibility of cleaning up the mess, but perhaps only after sickness and death bring the toxins to their attention. Fortunately, there are entrepreneurs like you who believe in the importance of protecting the environment and preserving the waterways of Georgia.
Environmental laws can be complex, covering federal, state and local jurisdictions. In addition, you may have your own ideas about how to contribute to efforts to protect rivers, streams and coastal waters from pollution. An attorney committed to preserving the environment can assist you. Such an attorney can advise you on the options available to keep your company compliant and to develop environmental solutions for all your projects.