Report on Wildfire-Induced Contamination of Public Water Systems and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Recent wildfire events in the United States have revealed a significant threat to public drinking water infrastructure, challenging the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Contamination by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) following fires in California, Colorado, and Hawaii has necessitated the development of new protocols. This report details the emergence of this threat, the health implications, and the creation of a standardized recovery framework, the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) plan, which provides a critical tool for municipalities to uphold their commitments to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in the face of climate-related disasters (SDG 13).

1.0 Emergence of a New Threat to Water Security (SDG 6)

The 2017 Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, California, marked a turning point in understanding the impact of wildfires on urban infrastructure. Post-fire water sampling revealed severe contamination, fundamentally challenging the security of treated water distribution systems and progress toward SDG 6.1 (universal and equitable access to safe drinking water).

1.1 Initial Case Study: Santa Rosa, 2017

• A resident reported water smelling like gasoline post-fire.
• Testing confirmed the presence of benzene, a VOC, at 8,000 times the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit.
• The source was identified as the wildfire’s impact on the water distribution system, a previously unrecognized contamination pathway.

1.2 Contamination Mechanism

The process by which wildfires contaminate sealed water systems directly threatens SDG 6.3 (improving water quality by reducing pollution). The mechanism involves several steps:

1. Structural damage and high water demand from firefighting cause depressurization in the water system.
2. This vacuum effect pulls in contaminated air and smoke containing VOCs from burned structures and materials.
3. High temperatures can cause plastic pipes (e.g., PVC, HDPE) to degrade and leach chemicals directly into the water supply.

2.0 Public Health Implications and Regulatory Gaps (SDG 3)

The presence of VOCs in drinking water poses a direct risk to human health, undermining SDG 3.9, which aims to reduce illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and water pollution. The lack of federal and state guidance has left a critical gap in protecting community well-being.

2.1 Health Risks of VOC Contamination

• The EPA regulates approximately 20 VOCs in drinking water due to their adverse health effects.
• Benzene, a common post-fire contaminant, is a known carcinogen linked to anemia and other blood disorders.
• Existing EPA standards and routine monitoring protocols, which test water as it leaves the treatment plant, are insufficient as they do not account for contamination occurring within the distribution network post-wildfire.

2.2 Regulatory Response and Limitations

• In 2024, California became the only state to mandate post-wildfire water testing.
• However, the law requires testing only for benzene. Expert analysis suggests this is inadequate, as other harmful VOCs can be present even when benzene is not detected. This policy gap could lead to a false sense of security and potentially compromise public health, failing to fully uphold the principles of SDG 3.

3.0 A Collaborative Framework for Resilient Infrastructure (SDG 11 & SDG 17)

In response to the governance vacuum, a multi-stakeholder partnership emerged, exemplifying SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This collaboration between academia, public utilities, and non-profits led to the development of a vital tool for building resilient water infrastructure, a core target of SDG 11.

3.1 The Role of Expert Intervention

Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor, became a central figure in guiding utilities through these crises. His engagement with affected municipalities in Santa Rosa, Paradise (2018 Camp Fire), and Louisville, Colorado (2021 Marshall Fire), provided critical, on-the-ground expertise where no formal protocols existed.

3.2 The Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Plan

Funded by the Water Research Foundation, Whelton and his team published a comprehensive guide in 2024 to standardize recovery efforts. The CONOPS plan is a direct contribution to SDG 11.5 (reducing the impact of disasters) by providing a clear, evidence-based roadmap for utilities.

Key Components of the CONOPS Plan:

• Defines roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, including utility staff, health officials, and regulators.
• Provides systematic protocols for system sampling, including guidance on how to account for chemical leaching from plastic pipes over time.
• Outlines options for decontamination and system restoration.
• Empowers local leaders to make informed decisions, reducing guesswork and expediting the restoration of safe water services.

The successful application of the CONOPS plan by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) after 2024 fires, which restored service in two months, demonstrates its effectiveness in building local capacity and resilience.

4.0 Conclusion: Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Water Systems (SDG 13)

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires at the wildland-urban interface, a direct consequence of climate change, makes this a persistent and growing threat. This reality underscores the importance of integrating climate adaptation strategies (SDG 13) into the management of essential public services like water.

The development and adoption of the CONOPS plan represent a critical step forward. It provides a model for how collaborative, science-based action can help communities adapt to new climate realities. To fully achieve the targets of SDG 3, SDG 6, and SDG 11, it is imperative that regulatory bodies beyond California recognize this threat and that utilities nationwide are equipped with the knowledge and tools to ensure water remains safe and accessible for all, even in the aftermath of disaster.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly addresses health risks associated with contaminated drinking water. It highlights the presence of benzene, a carcinogen, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to human health, linking the environmental disaster of wildfires to public health outcomes.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the central theme of the article. It details how wildfires contaminate public drinking water systems, making the water unsafe and inaccessible. The entire narrative revolves around the challenge of ensuring safe drinking water for communities affected by these disasters.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The article discusses the vulnerability of water infrastructure (pipes, distribution systems) to wildfire damage. It also focuses on innovation in disaster response, specifically the development of a new protocol (CONOPS plan) by Professor Andrew Whelton to guide utilities in testing and decontaminating their systems, thereby building more resilient recovery processes.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The events described take place in communities like Santa Rosa, Paradise, and Louisville, which have been severely impacted by wildfires. The article focuses on making community infrastructure, specifically water systems, resilient to such disasters to protect residents and enable recovery.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly links the increasing intersection of wildfires with urban communities to climate change. The entire problem of wildfire-induced water contamination is presented as a consequence of climate-related hazards, and the response efforts are a form of adaptation and resilience-building against these impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
  • Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article directly relates to this target by discussing the contamination of drinking water with hazardous chemicals like benzene, which is “linked to anemia, a decrease in blood platelets and an increased risk of cancer.” The efforts to decontaminate the water systems are aimed at preventing these illnesses.
• Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
  • Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article illustrates a direct threat to this target. After the Tubbs Fire, a resident’s tap water “smelled like gasoline,” and sampling found benzene levels “8,000 times the amount of benzene the Environmental Protection Agency allows in drinking water,” rendering it unsafe and inaccessible.
• Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
  • Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure…to support economic development and human well-being.” The article shows how existing water infrastructure is not resilient to wildfires, as depressurization can “pull contaminants into service lines” and plastic pipes can “leach…chemicals into the water.” The development of the CONOPS plan is an innovation aimed at making the recovery of this infrastructure more reliable and resilient.
• Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
  • Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected…caused by disasters, including water-related disasters.” The wildfires are the primary disaster, and the subsequent water contamination is a direct impact affecting the residents of Santa Rosa, Paradise, and other communities. The CONOPS plan is a tool for disaster response and risk reduction, helping to mitigate the effects on the population.
• Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article frames the problem within the context of climate change, noting that “wildfires are increasingly intersecting with urban communities because of climate change.” The development and implementation of new protocols to manage water contamination post-wildfire is a direct example of strengthening resilience and adapting to these climate-related disasters.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 3.9 and 6.1:
  • Indicator: Concentration of chemical contaminants in drinking water. The article explicitly mentions this, stating that one sample “contained 8,000 times the amount of benzene the Environmental Protection Agency allows in drinking water.” It also references EPA and California limits for benzene (5 and 1 micrograms per liter, respectively). Monitoring these levels is a direct measure of water safety.
  • Indicator: Presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The article discusses the need to test for a broad panel of VOCs, not just benzene. The “11 percent of the time” that VOCs were detected without benzene in Los Angeles is a quantifiable metric.
• For Target 9.1 and 11.5:
  • Indicator (Implied): Time required to restore safe water service post-disaster. The article implies this indicator by noting that with the new playbook, the “LADWP was able to restore water service in two months.” This duration serves as a metric for the efficiency and resilience of the recovery process.
  • Indicator (Implied): Adoption of disaster response and recovery plans. The article highlights the creation and use of the CONOPS plan by utilities in Los Angeles and Maui. The number of utilities adopting such evidence-based plans can be an indicator of improved infrastructure management and disaster preparedness.
• For Target 13.1:
  • Indicator: Existence and implementation of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. The article describes the creation of the CONOPS plan as a “blueprint for how water utility staff can look for and decontaminate their systems” where federal and state guidelines were lacking. The development and adoption of this plan is a tangible indicator of increased adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Summary

Source: wfyi.org