Wildfire damage and contamination to private drinking water wells

Jankowski, Caroline; Isaacson, Kristofer; Larsen, Madeline B; Ley, Christian; Cook, Myles; Whelton, Andrew J.

doi:10.1002/aws2.1319

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Methods and equipment used for material characterization, onsite water quality analysis (pH, temperature, DO, chlorine), analysis for chemical contaminations, metals, sulfur, and microbial contaminants are described in the SI. Contaminants, similar to authors’ previous studies, , are described in the SI.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Residential Water Softeners Release Carbon, Consume Chlorine, and Require Remediation after Hydrocarbon Contamination

Jankowski,

Gustafson,

Isaacson

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Water quality impacts of new ion exchange point-of-entry residential softeners and their ability to be decontaminated following hydrocarbon exposure were investigated. During startup, significant amounts of total sulfur (445 ± 815 mg/L) and total organic carbon (937 ± 119 mg/L) were released into the drinking water that flowed through the softeners. Particulate organic carbon was released until the third regeneration cycle, and resin may also have been released. After one week of device use, softeners continued to cause organic carbon levels to be four to five times greater than background levels. Leached materials from the ion-exchange resin contributed to chlorine decay. When resins were exposed to hydrocarbon-contaminated water, they sorbed benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and then desorbed the contaminants into drinking water during a 15 day flushing decontamination period. On day 15, benzene exceeded the federal drinking water limit for two of the four resins. The aged resin contributed to the greatest chlorine decay rates and sorbed and then retained the least amount of BTEX. Scale and biofilm on the aged resin likely prompted disinfectant reactivity and inhibited BTEX diffusion into the resin. Study results show that softeners exposed to hydrocarbon-contaminated water may need to be repeatedly flushed to remove BTEX contamination or be replaced. Additional work is recommended to better understand softener impacts on drinking water quality.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Residential Water Softeners Release Carbon, Consume Chlorine, and Require Remediation after Hydrocarbon Contamination

Jankowski,

Gustafson,

Isaacson

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Health risks associated with exposure to metals in wind-blown soil (dust) could be very different from risks associated with growing and consuming crops in fire-impacted soils or risks associated with the movement of metals from soils into aquifers. 42 We need additional studies of soil contamination after WUI wildfires to specifically examine how the bioavailability of metals or other contaminants are affected by wildfires and the potential for the transport of soil contaminants into the atmosphere and water sources.…”

Section: ■ Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, even at low concentrations, methylmercury and hexavalent chromium can threaten human health. , Finally, we are hesitant to define risk with specific threshold values for soil metal concentrations given that the risk is context dependent. Health risks associated with exposure to metals in wind-blown soil (dust) could be very different from risks associated with growing and consuming crops in fire-impacted soils or risks associated with the movement of metals from soils into aquifers . We need additional studies of soil contamination after WUI wildfires to specifically examine how the bioavailability of metals or other contaminants are affected by wildfires and the potential for the transport of soil contaminants into the atmosphere and water sources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Soil Contamination at the Wildland-Urban Interface after the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, USA

Jech,

Adamchak,

Stokes

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Wildfires at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are increasingly common. The impacts of such events are likely distinct from those that occur strictly in wildland areas, as we would expect an elevated likelihood of soil contamination due to the combustion of anthropogenic materials. We evaluated the impacts of a wildfire at the WUI on soil contamination, sampling soils from residential and nonresidential areas located inside and outside the perimeter of the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, USA. We found that fire-affected residential properties had elevated concentrations of some heavy metals (including Zn, Cu, Cr, and Pb), but the concentrations were still below levels of likely concern, and we observed no corresponding increases in concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The postfire increases in metal concentrations were not generally observed in the nonresidential soils, highlighting the importance of combustion of anthropogenic materials for potential soil contamination from wildfires at the WUI. While soil contamination from the 2021 Marshall Fire was lower than expected, and likely below the threshold of concern for human health, our study highlights some of the challenges that need to be considered when assessing soil contamination after such fires.

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Making a vicious cycle virtuous: A research and policy agenda for advancing the water security of unregulated users in the Southwestern U.S.

Dobbin,

Hernandez,

Bostic

et al. 2024

WIREs Water

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In the United States, most residents receive water from centralized utilities regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Yet, a sizable portion of U.S. residents satisfy their household water needs through decentralized means, including domestic wells, very small water systems, and hauled water. These federally unregulated water users are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly in aridifying regions like the Southwest. They are, however, inconsistently monitored and regulated at the Tribal, federal, state, and local levels. Compared to regulated users, very few programs exist to assist this population in securing and maintaining safe, affordable drinking water access. This neglect creates a vicious cycle whereby their water security needs remain both poorly understood and inadequately addressed. We review available data sources, regulations, assistance programs, and published studies relevant to unregulated water users across the Southwestern U.S. to illustrate this injurious feedback loop. We then propose four key areas for intervention to transform this vicious cycle into a virtuous one. Drawing on new insights from the emerging literature on modular, adaptive, and decentralized (MAD) water infrastructure, we highlight opportunities for investment and innovation to support decentralized service alongside existing investments in centralized infrastructure, and the critical need to attend to justice in the design and implementation of such policies.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Rights to Water

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Wildfire damage and contamination to private drinking water wells

Cited by 6 publications

References 49 publications

Residential Water Softeners Release Carbon, Consume Chlorine, and Require Remediation after Hydrocarbon Contamination

Residential Water Softeners Release Carbon, Consume Chlorine, and Require Remediation after Hydrocarbon Contamination

Determination of Soil Contamination at the Wildland-Urban Interface after the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, USA

Making a vicious cycle virtuous: A research and policy agenda for advancing the water security of unregulated users in the Southwestern U.S.

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