
Lessons Learned From Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Has Led To Stricter Water Regulations
Millions of Americans may have been sickened due to lax or non-existent water contamination regulations in the past
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - A horrific example of the life-threatening effects environmental catastrophes can have on human health is the Camp Lejeune water poisoning situation from 1953 to 1987. The Camp Lejeune water problems also offer crucial insights that can be used in comparable situations on and around military bases throughout the country. The necessity for strict rules and oversight to stop environmental disasters from happening in the first place is one of the most crucial lessons. So is the need for the US military to take immediate action and not drag their feet in rectifying instances of contamination quickly as they occur. At Camp Lejeune, it was discovered that the water supply had been poisoned for decades before anyone realized the scope of the issue with a number of dangerous compounds, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). The lack of laws and oversight of toxins in the water system was largely to blame for this. Thousands of Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claims have been filed as a result which could cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
As a result of the disaster at Camp Lejeune, controls and oversight of contaminants in water systems have been significantly enhanced. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and its subsequent updates set forth the initial national standards for drinking water quality and required public water systems to conduct routine testing and reporting. " Ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe drinking water is critical to maintaining public health and encouraging economic prosperity," the Act, sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), declared. By creating national standards for drinking water quality and a framework for safeguarding our water resources, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 played a crucial role in attaining these objectives."
Equally important to more strict regulations is the need for a lightning-fast response when a contaminant is identified in a local water system. It took the military about 30 years to recognize that toxic chemicals were causing health issues for people at Camp Lejeune and another decade to start to alert the public about the problem. The military seemingly dragged their feet before coming to grips with the gravity of the water contamination problem at Camp Lejeune and began taking action to address it. Thousands upon thousands of US Marines, civilian employees, and their respective family members including pregnant spouses were unintentionally exposed to harmful poisons as a result. Thousands have now filed Camp Lejeune Justice Act claims to seek monetary compensation for the adverse effect Camp Lejeune's drinking water had on their long-term health. Recent years have seen a rise in the significance of an early and effective response to environmental disasters. The National Response Framework provided by the Department of Homeland Security provides a structure for responding to disasters of all kinds, including environmental disasters. This paradigm emphasizes the value of efficient coordination, communication, and collaboration amongst all parties involved, including the general public, commercial organizations, and federal, state, and local governments.