(TLP:CLEAR) Article Examines Lessons Learned for Water Utilities Following the Los Angeles Wildfires

Summary: The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles last month have spurred new thinking into how water utilities can best prepare to assist firefighters with battling this natural hazard. A recent article by AP offers some lessons learned for utilities to consider.

Analyst Note: Wildfires are expected to grow more frequent and intense amid the earth’s warming climate. Given that, water and wastewater utilities are encouraged to review their wildfire emergency response plans and update them based on the lessons learned from the Los Angeles wildfires identified in the article, which includes:

• Remote shutoff valves
• Maintaining emergency water sources
• Dedicated pipes for firefighting
• Ensuring backup power
• Contamination mitigation

Wildfires present a direct risk to property and water and wastewater infrastructure assets, in addition to potential degradation of the water supply, according to EPA. When drinking water systems are damaged in a fire, “we can have ash, smoke, soot, other debris and gases get sucked into the water piping network,” said Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor. WaterISAC has previously reported about the threat of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from fires to water utilities.

Original Source: https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-los-angeles-water-utilities-infrastructure-firefighting-4bd38dde946d0add1545691b00a2d57b

Additional Reading:

• An Independent Investigation into the 2023 Hawaii Wildfires Offers Preparedness and Resilience Recommendations to Reduce Risk

Mitigation Recommendations:

• EPA – Incident Action Checklist – Wildfire
• EPA – Wildfire Conditions and Risk Map for Utilities
• EPA – Addressing Contamination of Drinking Water Distribution Systems from VOCs After Wildfires

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16, 17, & 18