The Camp Lejeune water contamination began in the 1950s and continued until the 1980s when it was finally discovered and addressed. The contamination was caused by a variety of sources, including industrial solvents and dry cleaning chemicals that were dumped into the ground near the Camp Lejeune base's water supply. The contamination affected multiple water treatment facilities on the base, including the Tarawa Terrace, Hadnot Point, and Holcomb Boulevard water treatment plants.
As a result of the contamination, thousands of veterans and their families were exposed to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals. The toxic substances present in the water supply, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), have been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer and birth defects. Many of the veterans and their families who were exposed to the Camp Lejeune contaminated water have experienced serious and long-lasting health effects as a result. Despite the severity of the contamination, it was not until the 1980s that the issue was finally addressed and steps were taken to clean up the Camp Lejeune toxic water supply.