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Cited by 69Water Treatment and DisinfectionFire effects on ecosystemsWater Quality and Resources Studies

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

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Pennino, Michael J., Leibowitz, Scott G., Compton, Jana E., Beyene, Mussie T., LeDuc, Stephen D.·2022·Science of The Total Environment
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149890PMC PMC10084414
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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 compounds (VOCs) were analyzed in watersheds that experienced major wildfires. Surface water sourced drinking water (SWDW) nitrate violations increased by an average of 0.56 violations per PWS and concentrations increased by 0.044 mg-N/L post-wildfire. Groundwater sourced drinking water (GWDW) nitrate violations increased by 0.069 violations per PWS and concentrations increased by 0.12 mg-N/L post-wildfire. SWDW total trihalomethane (TTHM) violations increased by 0.58 violations per PWS and concentrations increased by 10.4 μg/L. SWDW total haloacetic acid (HAA5) violations increased by 0.82 violations per PWS and concentrations increased by 8.5 μg/L. Arsenic violations increased by 1.08 violations per PWS and concentrations increased by 0.92 μg/L. There was no significant effect of wildfires on average VOC violations. Nitrate violations increased in 75% of SWDW sites and 34% of GWDW sites post-wildfire, while about 71% and 50% of SWDW sites showed an increase in TTHM and HAA5 violations. Violations also increased for 35% of arsenic and 44% of VOC sites post-wildfire. These findings support the need for increased awareness about the impact of wildfires on drinking water treatment to help PWS operators adapt to the consequences of wildfires on source water quality, particularly in wildfire-prone regions.

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  • Pennino et al. (2022) reported significant average increases in public water supply (PWS) arsenic concentrations (0.92 μg/L) and drinking water violations (1.08 violations per PWS) in finished drinking water following wildfire.

    “Pennino et al. (2022) reported significant average increases in public water supply (PWS) arsenic concentrations (0.92 μg/L) and drinking water violations (1.08 violations per PWS) in finished drinking water following wildfire.”

    From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Pennino et al., 2022

    Section 3.3 reports significant increases of 1.08 violations per PWS and 0.92 μg/L in average arsenic concentration, matching the quoted figures. But these results are for groundwater-sourced drinking water in the three-year pre- versus post-wildfire comparison, using annual averages. Section 4.4 says the alternative window method found no significant difference, so the unqualified claim is broader than the result. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Total THM concentrations increased an average of 10.4 μg/L in the first year post-fire and remained generally elevated for 5 yr.

    “Total THM concentrations increased an average of 10.4 μg/L in the first year post-fire and remained generally elevated for 5 yr (Pennino et al., 2022).”

    From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Pennino et al., 2022

    Section 3.2.2 reports that total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentrations were significantly elevated throughout the first five years after wildfire, by up to 10.4 μg/L. It does not identify 10.4 μg/L as the average increase specifically in the first year, so that timing is not supported by the passage. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • A recent study of contaminants in public drinking water found actual increases in DBPs in finished drinking water sourced from burned watersheds.

    “Beyond the study of DBP formation potential, a recent study of contaminants in public drinking water found actual increases in DBPs (not merely a laboratory based potential, but detection in the delivery system itself) in finished drinking water sourced from burned watersheds (Pennino et al., 2022).”

    From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Pennino et al., 2022

  • A significant increase in public water nitrate violations in the U.S. has been associated with wildfire and should be a concern for water suppliers.

    “A significant increase in public water nitrate violations in the U.S. has been associated with wildfire and should be a concern for water suppliers (Pennino et al., 2022).”

    From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Pennino et al., 2022

  • Total HAA concentrations increased by 8.5 μg/L in the first year and stayed elevated for 5 yr, while violations remained higher 8 yr post-fire.

    “Total HAA concentrations increased by 8.5 μg/L in the first year and stayed elevated for 5 yr, while violations remained higher 8 yr post-fire.”

    From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Pennino et al., 2022

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Authors
Pennino, M. J., Leibowitz, S. G., Compton, J. E., Beyene, M. T., & LeDuc, S. D.
Affiliations
Environmental Protection Agency (US)
Corresponding author
Pennino, Michael J.
ORCID
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-01
Volume
804
Pages
149890
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149890
PMC
PMC10084414
OpenAlex
W3194419375
Cited by
69
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Water Treatment and Disinfection
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Quality and Resources Studies
Keywords
forest fires, drinking water quality, nitrate, arsenic, disinfection by-products, trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, volatile organic compounds, wildland-urban interface, surface water, groundwater, post-fire runoff, Safe Drinking Water Act
MeSH terms
Wildfires, Arsenic, Disinfection, Humans, Nitrates, United States, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Drinking Water

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