Celebrating World Oceans Day
June 6, 2025
Celebrating World Oceans Day
World Oceans Day, observed annually on June 8, is a global event that highlights the vital role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth. This year marks the 31st anniversary of World Ocean Day. The celebration has united people worldwide as they work together toward the shared goal of keeping our oceans clean.
McFadden Engineering is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and is licensed in the states of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Our connection to waterways that impact the overall health of our oceans runs deep. Our team has long been involved in efforts to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of our coastal environments.
What is World Oceans Day?
The concept of a ‘World Oceans Day’ was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate our world’s shared ocean and our connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it, according to the United Nations.
On this day, communities worldwide celebrate our appreciation for the world’s oceans and recommit to preserving their health. World Ocean Day serves as a call to action for stronger ocean and climate policies. Global coordination for World Ocean Day began in 2002, spearheaded by The Ocean Project and has been officially recognized by the United Nations since 2008. Today, World Ocean Day brings together youth, NGOs, businesses, aquariums, schools, governments and many others to honor and safeguard our ocean.
Despite covering more than 70% of our planet, much of the ocean remains unexplored, according to NOAA. Yet, oceans function as the Earth’s “lungs,” producing a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe and playing a crucial role in regulating the climate.
McFadden Engineering Environmental Services
Environmental Compliance to Protect Our Waterways
McFadden Engineering maintains strong, long-standing relationships with local, state and federal regulatory agencies, enabling us to efficiently manage the environmental permitting process on behalf of our clients. We work to save clients both time and resources. We also conduct compliance audits to help clients fulfill their environmental responsibilities and remain in full legal compliance. Our permitting expertise spans both public and private sector projects and includes:
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for the discharge of treated wastewater and stormwater to surface waters
- Construction general permits for land-disturbing activities
- Industrial general NPDES permits for specific industrial operations and discharges
- Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits for subsurface discharge of treated wastewater and stormwater
- Water withdrawal permits for potable water systems and industrial processes
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits for work conducted in navigable waterways
Water Quality and Hydraulic Modeling
For more than 30 years, McFadden Engineering has been at the forefront of water quality modeling, contributing to the development of some of the earliest models adopted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Our team applies advanced modeling techniques to assess the environmental impacts of wastewater discharges, industrial operations and land development. We develop and interpret custom water quality models for use by municipalities, private clients and regulatory bodies.
While hydraulic modeling primarily focuses on rivers, streams, lakes, and other hydrological systems within land, it can significantly impact waterways and, in turn, oceans in several ways:
- Infrastructure Design: Engineers use these models to design safer bridges, dams, and stormwater systems that can handle expected water flows
- Environmental Impact Analysis: Hydraulic modeling helps assess the potential impact of projects on local water systems, including downstream impacts that eventually affect coastal areas and oceans
- Water Quality Management: Some models can simulate the transport and deposition of pollutants, sediments and nutrients, aiding in the design of infrastructure that supports cleaner waterways, ultimately benefiting the ocean
Environmental Engineering Services
We offer a comprehensive range of environmental engineering services focused on minimizing environmental impacts from both natural events and human activities. Our capabilities include:
- Designing best management practices (BMPs) for regulatory compliance
- Developing spill prevention and response plans for industrial facilities
- Identifying effective treatment strategies to meet permitted discharge standards
McFadden Engineering’s team of water and wastewater experts specializes in providing environmentally sound solutions to solve unique civil and environmental engineering needs. Based in Mobile, Ala., for more than 30 years, McFadden Engineering has engineered solutions that positively impact wetlands, surface and raw water sources that flow to our oceans. Visit mcfaddenengineering.com for more information.