Editing Wildfire (section)

=== On waterways ===

Debris and chemical runoff into waterways after wildfires can make drinking water sources unsafe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Proctor |first1=Caitlin R. |last2=Lee |first2=Juneseok |last3=Yu |first3=David |last4=Shah |first4=Amisha D. |last5=Whelton |first5=Andrew J. |year=2020 |title=Wildfire caused widespread drinking water distribution network contamination |journal=AWWA Water Science |volume=2 |issue=4 |doi=10.1002/aws2.1183 |bibcode=2020AWWWS...2E1183P |s2cid=225641536}}</ref> Though it is challenging to quantify the impacts of wildfires on surface water quality, research suggests that the concentration of many pollutants increases post-fire. The impacts occur during active burning and up to years later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildfires and Water Quality {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/centers/california-water-science-center/science/science-topics/wildfires-and-water-quality#:~:text=Wildfires%20can%20compromise%20water%20quality,and%20drinking-water%20treatment%20processes. |access-date=26 October 2023 |website=www.usgs.gov |archive-date=26 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026140951/https://www.usgs.gov/centers/california-water-science-center/science/science-topics/wildfires-and-water-quality#:~:text=Wildfires%20can%20compromise%20water%20quality,and%20drinking-water%20treatment%20processes. |url-status=live }}</ref> Increases in nutrients and total suspended sediments can happen within a year while heavy metal concentrations may peak 1–2 years after a wildfire.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Raoelison |first1=Onja D. |last2=Valenca |first2=Renan |last3=Lee |first3=Allison |last4=Karim |first4=Samiha |last5=Webster |first5=Jackson P. |last6=Poulin |first6=Brett A. |last7=Mohanty |first7=Sanjay K. |date=15 January 2023 |title=Wildfire impacts on surface water quality parameters: Cause of data variability and reporting needs |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=317 |page=120713 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120713 |pmid=36435284 |bibcode=2023EPoll.31720713R }}</ref>

Benzene is one of many chemicals that have been found in drinking water systems after wildfires. Benzene can permeate certain plastic pipes and thus require long times to be removed from the water distribution infrastructure. Researchers estimated that, in worst case scenarios, more than 286 days of constant flushing of a contaminated HDPE service line were needed to reduce benzene below safe drinking water limits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2019 |title=Considerations for Decontaminating HDPE Service Lines by Flushing |url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/PlumbingSafety/opinions/Final-HDPE-Service-Line-Decontamination-2019-03-18.pdf |website=engineering.purdue.edu |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813140928/https://engineering.purdue.edu/PlumbingSafety/opinions/Final-HDPE-Service-Line-Decontamination-2019-03-18.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Haupert |first1=Levi M. |last2=Magnuson |first2=Matthew L. |year=2019 |title=Numerical Model for Decontamination of Organic Contaminants in Polyethylene Drinking Water Pipes in Premise Plumbing by Flushing |journal=Journal of Environmental Engineering |volume=145 |issue=7 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001542 |pmc=7424390 |pmid=32801447}}</ref> Temperature increases caused by fires, including wildfires, can cause plastic water pipes to generate toxic chemicals<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Isaacson |first1=Kristofer P. |last2=Proctor |first2=Caitlin R. |last3=Wang |first3=Q. Erica |last4=Edwards |first4=Ethan Y. |last5=Noh |first5=Yoorae |last6=Shah |first6=Amisha D. |last7=Whelton |first7=Andrew J. |year=2021 |title=Drinking water contamination from the thermal degradation of plastics: Implications for wildfire and structure fire response |journal=Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=274–284 |doi=10.1039/D0EW00836B |s2cid=230567682 |doi-access=free}}</ref> such as [[benzene]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 December 2020 |title=Plastic pipes are polluting drinking water systems after wildfires |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/12/plastic-pipes-are-polluting-drinking-water-systems-after-wildfires/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526210836/https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/12/plastic-pipes-are-polluting-drinking-water-systems-after-wildfires/ |url-status=live }}</ref>