Oil and the Environment: Dallas Weighs Both in Healthy Measure

12/16/2020 (Permalink)

Water restoration is key when it comes to a water damaged property. Call the professionals a SERVPRO for the water damage restoration services needed.

How The Trinity River Shaped and Reshaped Dallas

Longtime Dallas residents may remember when the Trinity river was barely a trickle of runoff sluggishly moving down a ditch. Today, the river is as alive and vibrant as ever, with one of the largest urban nature areas in the entire world. The Trinity River has always been part of our city's core, and once upon a time, it was even lusher than it is today.

Dallas was founded in the 1840s, with the first buildings erected directly adjacent to the river. This location was not arbitrary – the spot had rapidly developed into an important river crossing for wagons heading West. This section of the river was also remarkably biodiverse, with ample opportunity for local hunters to supplement the ever-expanding cattle industry. For many businesses and households in this early community, a well might be entirely unnecessary – the flowing river had fresh water for all.

By the early 20th century, however, the Trinity river had begun to cause some problems. Dallas was now a large city, home to skyscrapers, apartment buildings, and large factories. With few to no environmental regulations to guide them, these factories dumped pollutants into the river. Natural areas that had not already been cleared for development were now poisoned. When these pollutants started to taint the city's water supply, people realized something must be done. Unfortunately, this did not involve a reduction in the types or volumes of pollutants dumped by industrial companies. Instead, the river was re-routed entirely, skirting around the city.

For most of the 20th Century, Dallas looked identical to most other city centers: urban, industrial, and lacking in natural recreation opportunities. In the latter half of the century, however, the city's industrial areas shrank. More importantly, they also instituted manufacturing practices that were far cleaner and more sustainable than those used in the past. These factors, combined with public demand, led to the development of the Trinity River Project at the turn of the 21st century, which allowed the river to resume its natural course. Environmentalist efforts also helped to restore the local foliage much faster than it would have returned by itself.

However, the Project is not over and has much room to grow over the next few decades. As the trees grow older and taller, biodiversity will only increase, and the river area will begin to look like the forests that remained for eons virtually untouched by humanity.

Dallas is No Longer an Oil City

For decades, Dallas built up a reputation as a center for the oil industry, with warehouses, refineries, and corporate centers all primarily serving the nearby oil fields. At one point, the oil industry appeared so healthy here that housing prices reached the levels of Manhattan and other expensive cities without any room to expand, even though new neighborhoods were being built here at record rates. In the past few years, oil prices have fallen sharply, yet our community and economy remain more robust than ever.

Before oil, it was cotton that dominated our area so thoroughly. When global cotton production increased and outcompeted many local businesses, the city's industrial center made a smooth transition to the refinement and shipment of petroleum and plastic products. However, when an economy relies on just one industry, it becomes vulnerable to swings in the market. When oil demand swelled, so did our city. When it declined, many entrepreneurs and workers lost everything.

These conditions would not last long. Many of our neighbors work in the technology and communications industries, and the roots run deep for these businesses. Texas Instruments, one of the most important computer hardware developers in the world, started in Dallas during some of the earliest days of computer technology. Many companies would follow in their footsteps, making Dallas the home of everything from web hosting companies to refrigerator electronics specialists.

The tech and oil industries combined created a robust commercial sector for the city, which attracted large corporations of all sorts. With excellent city planning, a strong education system, and a remarkably diverse community, Dallas is undoubtedly the modern heart of Texas. Today, our town continues to grow faster than ever, and college graduates from around the country come here to support any industry you could think of.

A Technology Leader in Dallas Water Restoration

The success of water damage restoration in Dallas and surrounding areas depends on many things happening at once. Crews must respond quickly to stop the heaviest damages. Safety precautions have to be strictly observed, and inspections need to be thorough to ensure that no hidden damages are left to fester. SERVPRO accomplishes these tasks via the most advanced technology in the industry.

One of the first people to respond to any water damage disaster is our inspector. The SERVPRO inspector investigates the situation and analyzes the full extent of the damage, including aspects that may only be detectable through specialty tools. For example, when searching for water leaks behind walls and ceilings, we utilize thermal imaging devices to detect even the slightest abnormality. Water has unique thermal properties that typically makes it cooler (or, in some cases, warmer) than any materials around it. Thermal imaging devices help us track down the source of the problem when it may not be apparent.

Often, our thermal detection technology is aided by infrared scanning devices. These devices have roughly the same purpose but can also see through many materials to examine the areas behind them. In tandem, infrared and thermal scanners paint a detailed and accurate picture of the entire home's damage.

Once our restoration work begins, we bring out a few unique tools engineered specifically for our water damage projects. Our industrial-strength air movers and water extraction pumps work together to remove most of the water within a few hours. Once any standing water is gone, we utilize several kinds of dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air; these devices use complicated thermal and chemical mechanisms to return the environment to its optimal dryness.

SERVPRO of Northwest Dallas brings the most advanced technology in the industry to every water restoration situation in Dallas. Call our emergency line 24/7 at (214) 361-7887.