Wildfires and PVC Water Main Infrastructure Resilience

Forest fires have devastated municipalities from California to Colorado, often severely impacting local drinking water systems. Some media reports incorrectly blamed PVC water mains as the source of contaminants found in drinking water systems affected by wildfires even though PVC water mains remained in service during these events. The evidence shows that the primary sources are the combustion of trees with burning homes and other structures as secondary sources. Contaminants typically enter municipal water systems via damaged service lines and system-wide depressurization. Two world-renowned experts will provide deep insights into how wildfires impact water infrastructure and how it can be made more resilient.

Presentations:

• Kevin Phillips, District Manager, Paradise Irrigation District (PID), CA, will discuss how the 2018 Camp Fire caused massive water outflows and broken service connections, leading to widespread depressurization. He will also provide insights into how PID and the California State Water Resources Control Board navigated contamination challenges—including high benzene levels—to ensure safe water delivery during the rebuilding process.

• Dr. Brad Wham, Ph.D., EIT, M.ASCE, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, will present on current research into how wildfires trigger contamination through depressurization and back-siphoning. Dr. Wham, who conducted critical research following the 2021 Marshall Fire in Louisville, Colorado, will also discuss how his findings demonstrate that drinking water systems can become contaminated without direct damage to the water mains themselves.
  
  

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