Climate fires add dangerous chemicals to potable water supplies

Paul Pollets

Sometimes it feels like we're living in a sci-fi novel....

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/science/wildfires-water-toxins.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Jamie Hall

Good, if somewhat alarmist, article. Running the complete EPA 8260 volatile organics scan in representative locations is probably not a bad idea at all. So, however, is assuming that if there has been a significant, hot fire -- like the California wild fires -- that plastic piping, even buried, will have picked up contaminants and should either be thoroughly flushed -- or replaced. There is, though, a possible problem with the water source, and there it would seem to make sense to run the 8270 semi-volatile scan as well prior to use. There several considerations there: the 8270 scan takes time. There aren't that many labs. that can do it accurately. And -- it's very expensive. So on a source, if it has been exposed to fire area runoff or significant smoke or ash, yes. Otherwise...