Wildfire caused widespread drinking water distribution network contamination

被引:60
作者
Proctor, Caitlin R. [1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ]
Lee, Juneseok [5 ]
Yu, David [4 ,6 ]
Shah, Amisha D. [3 ,4 ]
Whelton, Andrew J. [3 ,4 ]
机构
[1] Purdue Univ, Weldon Sch Biomed Engn, W Lafayette, IN USA
[2] Purdue Univ, Sch Mat Engn, W Lafayette, IN USA
[3] Purdue Univ, Div Environm & Ecol Engn, W Lafayette, IN 47906 USA
[4] Purdue Univ, Lyles Sch Civil Engn, W Lafayette, IN 47906 USA
[5] Manhattan Coll, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Riverdale, NY USA
[6] Purdue Univ, Dept Polit Sci, W Lafayette, IN USA
来源
AWWA WATER SCIENCE | 2020年 / 2卷 / 04期
关键词
disaster; plastics; water distribution network; water quality; wildfire; VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS; DECOMPOSITION; PLASTICS; REMOVAL; SMOKE;
D O I
10.1002/aws2.1183
中图分类号
TV21 [水资源调查与水利规划];
学科分类号
081501 ;
摘要
The Tubbs Fire (2017) and Camp Fire (2018) are the first known wildfires where widespread drinking water chemical contamination was discovered in the water distribution network and not in the source water after the fire. In both disasters, drinking water exceeded state and federal government-defined exposure limits for several volatile organic compound (VOC) contaminants (e.g., benzene at 40,000 mu g/L [Tubbs] and >2,217 mu g/L [Camp]). This work outlines factors that influence wildfire-induced drinking water quality threats based on the findings from these two fires and explores related scientific and policy issues. For example, certain plastics in the network may serve as a primary VOC source through in situ plastic pyrolysis. Depressurization of the distribution network likely transported contaminated water that subsequently contaminated undamaged infrastructure. As wildfires at the wildland-urban interface are likely to occur more frequently, greater scientific evidence is needed to guide agency responses that will better protect public health.
引用
收藏
页数:14
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