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- Wildfires can contaminate drinking water with harmful chemicals, posing a significant health risk to communities.
- The heat from wildfires can cause volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to leach from plastic pipes into the water supply.
- Communities near fire-prone areas are at high risk, especially those with plastic service lines and water meters.
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Essential Context
The devastating Camp Fire in Paradise, California, in 2018 highlighted a previously unrecognized threat: the contamination of drinking water systems by wildfires. The fire, which killed 85 people and destroyed much of the town, left residents with toxic levels of benzene in their drinking water.
Core Players
- Andrew Whelton – Environmental engineer and leader of Purdue University’s Healthy Plumbing Consortium and Center for Plumbing Safety.
- Erica Fischer – Assistant professor of civil and construction engineering at Oregon State University.
- Paradise Irrigation District – The water supply authority for Paradise, California.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Provides guidelines for addressing water contamination after wildfires.
Key Numbers
- 85 – Number of people killed in the Camp Fire.
- 26,000 – Population of Paradise, California, before the fire.
- 277 km – Length of large water pipes (mains) in Paradise’s water distribution system.
- 10,000+ – Number of smaller pipes (service lines) in Paradise’s water distribution system.
- 200 °C – Approximate temperature threshold at which plastic pipes can leach VOCs into water.
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The Catalyst
The Camp Fire in 2018 was a wake-up call for communities and water utilities. The fire revealed that wildfires can significantly contaminate drinking water systems, particularly those with plastic service lines and water meters.
Andrew Whelton, who investigated the Paradise water contamination, noted, “It’s probably been happening for decades, but nobody was testing for VOCs.”
Inside Forces
Wildfires cause thermal degradation of plastic pipes, leading to the leaching of VOCs into the water supply. This process affects service lines and water meters, which are often near or above the ground surface and thus more vulnerable to fire.
Additionally, pressure loss in water storage tanks can cause them to “suck in smoke,” contaminating the epoxy plastic lining of the tanks.
Power Dynamics
Water utilities play a crucial role in protecting community health. Erica Fischer emphasizes, “Water utilities are some of the most important members of a community” during wildfires.
The lack of a uniform approach to testing for contaminants after wildfires highlights the need for better protocols and more comprehensive testing, particularly for VOCs and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).
Outside Impact
The contamination of drinking water by wildfires has broader implications, affecting public health and community trust in water supplies. Postfire sampling has revealed VOCs at alarming levels, exceeding allowable short- and long-term exposure limits.
Gina Solomon, an occupational and environmental health physician, advises that utilities should test for contamination house by house after a wildfire, focusing on service lines into burned homes.
Future Forces
As wildfires become more frequent and intense due to climate change, the risk to drinking water systems increases. Developing fireproof sensors and conducting large-scale fire simulations are crucial steps toward ensuring water safety.
Researchers are working to determine the temperature threshold for pipe contamination and to develop better testing and cleanup protocols.
Data Points
- 2017: The Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, California, first revealed VOC contamination in drinking water after a wildfire.
- 2018: The Camp Fire in Paradise, California, resulted in toxic benzene levels in the drinking water.
- 2021: The EPA released guidelines for addressing contamination of drinking water distribution systems from VOCs after wildfires.
- 2022: Research identified nine compounds emanating from burning plastic pipes and 23 compounds associated with smoke intrusion.
As the frequency and intensity of wildfires rise, safeguarding drinking water systems becomes increasingly critical. Communities and water utilities must be proactive in preparing for and responding to these events to protect public health.
