Factories can do good things for local communities. For example, they often employ many local people, which is good for the local economy and can help unskilled laborers find the work that they are looking for. Additionally, many of them give back to the community in the form of charitable donations and other positive things. However, there can be disadvantages to having a factory in your area, too. For example, you might be worried about air quality, or you could be concerned that the local water supply is being contaminated. These are a few things that you can do if you think this might be the case.

Contact the Factory

In some cases, it's not a bad idea to contact the factory -- preferably in writing -- to let them know about your concerns and to ask what they are doing to help avoid contamination. Factories that are concerned about their impact on the environment and the people in the local community often go to great lengths to dispose of things properly. If this is the case, the factory might be able to provide you with additional information that can put your mind at ease.

Have Your Water Tested

It's never a bad idea to have your water tested. Then, you can check to ensure that it is safe for you and your family to drink. If you find anything amiss in the report, make sure that you keep the report as proof. In the meantime, consider filtering your water or buying bottled water until the issue is resolved.

Contact Your Local Government

There is a chance that your local government is not aware of the problem, if there is one. Contacting your local government offices and inquiring about this can help you ensure that the appropriate community leaders are aware of the situation.

File a Lawsuit

One option is to consider filing a lawsuit against the factory for the contaminated water. This can be tough to do, since these factories often have the resources to hire the best legal teams. It is not something that you are going to want to do yourself, but if you hire a good environmental lawyer, he can help you determine if you have a case and can help you move forward.

As you can see, you don't have to just put up with water contamination by a local manufacturing plant. Instead, if you think this is something that is going on, consider following these steps to do something about it. To learn more, contact a law firm like Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke-Chartered.