Wildfires can increase regulated nitrate, arsenic, and disinfection byproduct violations and concentrations in public drinking water supplies.

ABSTRACT: Wildfires are a concern for water quality in the United States, particularly in the wildland-urban interface of populous areas. Wildfires combust vegetation and surface soil organic matter, reduce plant nutrient uptake, and can alter the composition of runoff and receiving waters. At the wildland-urban interface, fires can also introduce contaminants from the combustion of man-made structures. We examine post-wildfire effects on drinking water quality by evaluating concentrations and maximum contaminant level (MCL) violations of selected contaminants regulated in the U.S. at public drinking water systems (PWSs) located downstream from wildfire events. Among contaminants regulated under the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act, nitrate, arsenic, disinfection byproducts, and volatile organic compoun

SUBMITTER: Pennino MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10084414 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature