Depressurization, another big contributor to contamination, occurs when firefighting efforts pull a lot of water from the system in a short period of time. “The water line that connects to a house can generally pump 9 gallons per minute,” Whelton said. “Firefighters can pull 500 gallons or up to 1,500 gallons of water per minute. So if you run five or six pump trucks from the water line, you’re looking at thousands of gallons of water being extracted from the water system in a very short period of time. The system becomes vulnerable to bacteria or chemicals enter the system from the surrounding environment. Usually, the high pressure of the water inside the system prevents any external contaminants—such as soil or groundwater—from being able to find their way into the system components. Structural damage from fire is also possible causing a loss of pressure, said Whelton. In the case of large fires like the Palisades or Eaton fires, you can have a large volume of water discharge, uncontrolled, out of the system, because of the broken pipes and parts of the system. If there is damage, smoke and debris can be sucked into the water system, while the broken sewage line can leak into nearby drinking water pipes. During the Marshall Fire in Louisville, Colorado in 2021, which burned over 1,000 homes, city officials advised residents to use it. water source only for bathing until extensive testing confirmed safety. Given that more than 12,000 structures had burned in Los Angeles by Monday morning, the potential for widespread contamination is significant, Kearns warned. The coming days and weeks will be crucial. After a water expert assesses the damage, they will determine whether the system can be flushed clean or if infrastructure repairs are needed. When enough has burned, workers have to replace pumps, pipes, and even tanks. For the portion of Los Angeles County served by LADWP, McCurry estimates that this recovery could take anywhere from a few days to weeks. The company, the Rubio Canon Land and Water Association, and the Kinneloa Irrigation District—all have issued Do Not Drink notices. “In the case of a large water system like LADWP, you’ll see it proceed a little faster,” says Kearns. “For smaller water providers, who sometimes only have a few employees and don’t have the budget for such an event, it can be a problem.” Santa Cruz experienced similar challenges during the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020, with water service taking months to stabilize. McCurry warns that some areas need years to build from scratch or overhaul a large system that has burned. It is important for residents to stay informed about recovery efforts, because the alert system can be complicated, and many residents may not even accept it, said Kearns. People should “proactively look for boil or Do Not Drink water signs from your water supplier, your city, your county,” he advises. “Share it with your neighbors and make sure that someone who has a language other than English as their first language gets the alert and knows what’s going on.” Some places, such as Louisville in Colorado, and Maui in Hawaii, issue tracked public access maps. water quality in each plot of land, which helps keep residents informed during the next month and year. However, Whelton warns that benzene is not the only chemical to worry about and the list of potential contaminants is long. Government and third-party testing services do not necessarily account for every possible exposure. “It is possible that some of the chemicals can linger for longer than the water supply,” echoes McCurry. He still advises to remain vigilant. Activated charcoal filters can help remove some organic contaminants, but may not completely eliminate the risk. “Safe water can be restored after a fire,” Whelton said. “Communities that recover quickly and are strong are those that work together and support each other.”
LA Fires Have Created Another Problem – Unsafe Drinking Water
