Contamination of Potable Water

Coliform Contamination Expert & Water Contamination Expert Witness

I’m Bonneau Dickson, PE, a sanitary engineer based in Berkeley, CA, and a trusted coliform contamination expert. For decades, I’ve helped attorneys, insurance professionals, and property owners figure out what really happened in contaminated water supply cases. Got a coliform contamination case? A potable water dispute? Or maybe you just need a clear answer about what went wrong with a water system. Either way, I’m available to help.

What Does a Contaminated Water Supply Expert Witness Actually Do?

When a water supply gets contaminated, someone has to figure out why. And someone has to explain it clearly to a judge, jury, or claims adjuster. That’s my job. I look closely at the engineering facts: how the contamination happened, who’s responsible, and whether the water system was built and maintained the right way.

Over the years, I’ve worked on all kinds of cases. Coliform bacteria showing up in a mobile home park’s water supply. Cross-connections that let untreated irrigation water mix into a city’s drinking water. Septic systems that backed up and tainted a neighbor’s well. I’ve been doing this kind of technical detective work since 1993.

Why Coliform Contamination Cases Need a Specialist

Here’s the thing about coliform results: they’re not always a simple yes or no. Sampling technique matters. Lab methods matter. So does how the water system was actually running at the time. All of it affects what the results really mean. In some of my past cases, the real question wasn’t just whether coliform was present.

It was whether the sampling was done correctly, and whether the water system even had enough supply and pressure in the first place. That’s the kind of detail a generalist might miss. It’s exactly where my experience makes a difference.

How I Help With Your Case

Step 1: I Review the Facts. First, I go through inspection reports, lab results, maintenance records, and site history.

Step 2: I Investigate. When needed, I visit the site in person, check the infrastructure, and trace how the contamination could have happened.

Step 3: I Explain It Plainly. Next, I turn the engineering details into language a jury or adjuster can actually follow. No confusing jargon.

Step 4: I Testify. Finally, I’m ready to serve as your expert witness in depositions, hearings, or trial.

Why Choose Bonneau Dickson, PE?

I’m a sole practitioner, not a large firm juggling a hundred cases at once. I’m a licensed sanitary engineer with real, hands-on design and construction experience in water lines, wells, pump stations, and treatment facilities. On top of that, I bring decades of forensic work on real contamination disputes, from mobile home parks to municipal systems to private properties.

That mix of design know-how and courtroom experience is what sets my work apart. I know how water systems are supposed to work, so I can spot what went wrong when they don’t.

Ready to Talk About Your Case?

Whether you’re an attorney building a case or an insurance professional evaluating a claim, I’m available to help. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and see how my water contamination investigation experience can support your case!

Frequently Asked Questions