A new study from the University of Technology Sydney reveals the alarming potential for water contamination following wildfires, urging authorities to take proactive measures to safeguard drinking water quality.
The impact of wildfires extends well beyond the destruction of buildings and ecosystems. According to recent research from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), these natural disasters pose a significant risk to the safety of drinking water, something that has critical implications for public health.
In a compelling research letter published in Science, scientists from the UTS Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater emphasized that wildfires can introduce contaminants into drinking water distribution systems.
Over the last 20 years, nearly half a billion people globally have experienced wildfires within one kilometer of their homes, raising considerable health concerns.
“Authorities in areas of recent wildfires, such as the 2025 Los Angeles fires, should ensure that drinking water is safe by monitoring and mitigating contamination in water distribution systems,” the researchers wrote.
This call to action is underscored by the finding that water safety can become compromised during its journey from treatment plants to consumers.
Wildfires expose these systems to over 50 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which are harmful. Notably troubling is the detection of benzene, a recognized carcinogen, in post-wildfire water samples.
“These VOCs likely enter the distribution systems through plastic pipes that have suffered thermal degradation or the infiltration of smoke into depressurized pipes,” explained the researchers.
First author Xuan Li, a Chancellor’s Research Fellow, highlighted the dire consequences of such contamination.
“For example, 11 months after the 2017 Santa Rosa wildfire in northern California, 40,000 micrograms per liter of benzene remained in drinking water from distribution systems,” he said in a news release. “Even short-term exposure to 26 micrograms per liter of benzene harms children, and long-term exposure increases leukemia risk.”
Corresponding author Qilin Wang, a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, further stressed that the risk is magnified by climate change and urbanization.
“Wildfire-related VOC levels often correlate with the scale of building destruction, underscoring the growing threat that future wildfires pose to water safety, especially in areas such as Los Angeles,” Wang added.
To mitigate these risks, the researchers propose stringent guidelines for monitoring and testing drinking water, emphasizing the importance of identifying and setting limits for wildfire-related VOCs in distribution systems.
The gravity of the situation outlined in this research letter underscores the urgent need for a proactive approach to ensure that communities affected by wildfires can trust the safety of their drinking water.
Source: University of Technology Sydney