Natural barriers, such as berms or dikes, can be effectively used as a containment strategy during oil spills. Berms, which are raised earth structures, and dikes, which are walls or embankments, can serve as physical barriers to prevent spilled oil from spreading and seeping into the surrounding environment. These natural features are particularly useful when strategically placed around oil storage facilities, equipment, or construction areas to create a secondary containment system.
Properly designed and maintained, natural barriers can complement and enhance the effectiveness of other containment methods, like booms or sorbents. Their ability to channel spilled oil to designated collection points facilitates easier cleanup and minimizes environmental damage. Including natural barriers in the containment strategy is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to mitigating the impact of oil spills.
