Engineering Services for Stormwater Damage Litigation

Altamont provided engineering services regarding litigation that addresses stormwater damage related to the construction of a shopping center.  The shopping center is upstream of an historic homestead in the piedmont of North Carolina.  The downstream property owner encumbered substantial property damage resulting from the increased runoff and redirected flow from the construction of approximately 20 acres of upstream impervious surface.  The increased runoff caused damage to the driveway and yard immediately downstream of the shopping center, but also caused significant damage to the receiving pond and creek at the homestead.

Altamont was retained by the defense to provide engineering analysis of the causes of damage and to assess the proposed repair measures.  Altamont provided hydraulic and hydrologic analyses and depositional testimony regarding the findings.  In conjunction with the engineering analysis, Altamont conducted an automated stormwater sampling event to capture stormwater samples of runoff entering from the shopping center during a significant rain event.  These samples were measured for turbidity, petroleum, nutrient loading, and other water quality parameters to better assess the impact of the runoff from the development.

The defense has used Altamont’s analyses regarding the causes and proposed repairs to determine appropriate remedies.  Recommendations and requested clarifications from Altamont assisted the defense in understanding the cause and effect of proposed repair measures.