As fires across Los Angeles County start to wind down, health officials are warning about risks related to water systems in the area.
Municipal water pipes damaged by fire can lose pressure, causing them to suck in smoke and harmful chemicals. Those chemicals can make their way through the water system and linger for years. Plastic piping, commonly used to carry water in quake-prone states like California, can also release chemicals into drinking water if the piping is heated, melted or burned.
One concern is benzene, which is abundant in wildfire smoke. If inhaled or ingested, benzene can lead to nausea and vomiting in the short term and may cause cancer over time.
After the wildfire that destroyed Paradise in 2018, testing found benzene concentrations in drinking water had spiked to more than 80 times levels that California health officials say are dangerous for short-term exposure.
Naphthalene and methylene chloride, present in plastic, adhesives and other household materials, can also contaminate drinking water and disperse easily into the air.
Local utilities are not taking any chances: “Do not drink” notices are in place for parts of Los Angeles County, including fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
Utilities now face the daunting task of testing the safety of drinking water, as residents seek to return home.
In the meantime, officials’ directions are clear for those under “Do not drink” notices: Use only bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice or preparing food, including baby formula; limit the use of hot water, because chemicals can easily vaporize; do not try to treat the water yourself; and keep a close eye on updates.
