The aftermath of the devastating fires in Maui has left residents grappling with the risk of contaminated drinking water, reports Associated Press. The fires caused extensive damage to drinking water pipes, leading to a loss of pressure that could allow toxic chemicals, metals, and bacteria into the water distribution system.
Maui County has issued a warning asking people not to attempt filtering their own water as there is no guaranteed method to render it safe; this includes Brita filters, filtering devices in refrigerators, and even whole-home systems. According to researcher Andrew Whelton from Purdue University, these methods can remove part of the contaminants, but toxic levels can remain.
Affected residents have been advised to use bottled water for all purposes or collect water from tankers made available near the burned areas. The state health department's environmental health division has asked the County to test drinking water for 23 chemicals regulated by federal limits, including volatile compounds (VOCs).
Wildfire is known to pollute drinking water sources, for example when ash is washed off into a reservoir. But the Maui County warnings follow new knowledge developed after the Tubbs Fire and Camp Fire in California in 2017 and 2018. A recent study by Whelton and others found those were “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”. Drinking water contamination was discovered in the water distribution network due to damaged and melted water pipes, leading to conflicting safety messaging by different agencies over time.
Recent research by Whelton's team highlighted the potential presence of semi-volatile compounds (SVOCs) too; they can contaminate water lines, even when more well-known pollutants like benzene are absent. “We found SVOCs leaching from damaged water meters into drinking water”, he noted. Residents who rely on private wells for water are also cautioned about potential hazards. Fires near wells could damage the protective cap and lead to water contamination.
Despite efforts to restore safe water, experts emphasize the need for thorough validation to ensure that no contamination remains before lifting water safety orders.
