People may be drinking the aftereffects of a wildfire long after the flames have been extinguished.
Ash and other pollutants can wash into reservoirs and surface water—the same sources that most water treatment plants use to provide public drinking water. These contaminants pose a challenge for water treatment plants because the extra disinfectants they add to kill pathogens can create health risks in the aftermath of wildfires—and so can the pipes themselves.
A Catch-22 for Treatment Plants
Treatment plants face an impossible challenge after wildfires. If they don’t add enough chemicals to disinfect water after it’s contaminated with ash and debris, pathogens may flourish. But adding more chemicals to deal with the risk can end up creating more disinfection byproducts.
Kimberly Drake
Author
Kimberly Drake is a health journalist and newspaper columnist with a decade of experience covering health and wellness topics. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Medical News Today, and other online and print publications. She also serves as governance board vice president for two charter schools for autistic students.
