Impact of Wildfires on Drinking Water Sources
Uncontrolled fires can impact source water by increasing nutrient and sediment runoff, the frequency of floods, and can impact water quality parameters such as total suspended solids, turbidity, organic carbon, mercury and other heavy metals. These resources provide information on wildfires and their potential impact on water quality.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Tools
- Ontario Forest Fire Info Map – this map provides current forest fire information throughout Ontario and identifies location and danger ratings
- Canada’s National Forestry Database – this database provides historical data of forest fires in Canada.
Articles
- A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of DW Sources to Wildfires (Robinne et al 2019)
- Implications of land disturbance on drinking water treatability in a changing climate: demonstrating the need for “source water supply and protection” strategies
- Releases of Fire-Derived Contaminants from Polymer Pipes Made of Polyvinyl Chloride
Reports
Case Studies
Links
- Wildfires, Water, and Our Health
- Water Quality after a Wildfire
- Wildfires: How Do They Affect Our Water Supplies?
- Wildland Fire Research: Water Supply and Ecosystem Protection
Photo Creator: Dan Leonard, Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS.
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