LA wildfires' danger deepens as 'do not drink tap water' alerts ring; Here's why
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: «Do not drink or cook with the tap water… Do not treat the tap water yourself.» This alert, aimed at Pacific Palisades and surrounding neighbourhoods affected by the Palisades Fire, is part of a series of advisories stemming from the growing wildfires that have already ravaged the region, reported America's NPR.
The growing concern? Wildfires like the ones tearing through Los Angeles can dangerously compromise local drinking water systems, a problem experts say is becoming more common as wildfires intensify. According to Andrew Whelton, a professor of civil engineering at Purdue University who has studied wildfire-related water contamination, the damage can be severe. «They will find contamination,» Whelton explained. «The question is how high is it? Where is it? What parts of the communities will have to have restrictions,» he told the American broadcasting organisation.
Two ways wildfires can contaminate water
When it comes to water contamination from wildfires, the risks are twofold. First, the source water itself can become contaminated with harmful chemicals like benzene—a cancer-causing substance often found after major fires. Second, the delivery system, which includes everything from water treatment plants to the pipes that carry water into homes, can also be compromised. This week, with fires still raging, the Los Angeles area is seeing the effects of this complex problem, the NPR report noted.
Randy Dahlgren, a professor of soil science at UC Davis, notes that
