Chapter 6: Water pollution

It is generally expected that water availability will decrease due to climate change, and that short-duration drought conditions will increase. The way in which water is abstracted needs to be managed to address these challenges. This is another area where the construction industry can assist in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Water pollution incidents can easily arise from construction activities, especially when there is wet weather. Just stripping the soil of topsoil may cause pollution when it rains, as vegetation loses its run-off protection and the resulting muddy run-off into drains and watercourses can smother aquatic life and plants. The run-off from the use of chemicals such as cement, fuel and solvents can also present a serious risk of water pollution, as can construction on brownfield sites involving risks of pollution from disused storage tanks and disused mines.