When Wildfire Strikes: How Placerville Homeowners Can Protect and Recover Their Water Systems During California’s Fire Season
Living in Placerville, California, means enjoying the beauty of the Sierra Nevada foothills, but it also means facing the increasing threat of wildfires during California’s extended fire season. Wildfires are a growing concern, and when smoke rolls in, indoor air quality can suffer drastically. As wildfires and high winds can lead to extended power outages, homeowners must also consider the critical impact these emergencies can have on their water systems. Understanding how to protect and recover your plumbing infrastructure during wildfire season isn’t just smart planning—it’s essential for your family’s safety and health.
The Hidden Water Crisis: How Wildfires Contaminate Your Plumbing
While most homeowners focus on protecting their homes from flames, wildfires can damage buried drinking water systems as well as private drinking water wells and building plumbing, making them unsafe to use. Since 2017, a growing number of wildfires have prompted chemical drinking water contamination in the United States. Levels found in some water systems have exceeded hazardous waste limits and posed an immediate health risk. The contamination occurs through multiple pathways that many residents don’t anticipate.
Systems that experienced low or no pressure during the wildfire event are susceptible to contamination from benzene and other organic compounds in the water supply lines. When water pressure drops during firefighting efforts or power outages, if you do hear air escaping from the faucet with water intermittently spurting out when it is turned on, that is an indication that your well and household plumbing had a loss of pressure and may have been damaged. This pressure loss can allow contaminated air, smoke, and chemicals to enter your water system.
Pre-Fire Preparation: Building Your Defense Strategy
Preparation is your first line of defense against wildfire-related water system damage. Install backflow prevention devices to protect your water supply from contamination. Check that outdoor pipes and water sources are in good condition and free from leaks. These simple steps can prevent contaminated water from entering your home’s plumbing system during an emergency.
For Placerville residents with private wells, preparation becomes even more critical. To the extent you can, visually check the water-supply system, including plumbing, for any damage, signs of leaks, or changes in operation. You should check to see if your well and plumbing system maintained positive pressure during the fire. This can be done by simply turning on a faucet in the household to see if water flows.
Consider investing in emergency water storage and having a backup generator to maintain water pressure during power outages. Document your water system with photos and keep records of recent water quality tests, as this information will be valuable for insurance claims and recovery efforts.
During the Emergency: Immediate Actions to Take
When wildfire threatens your area, taking immediate action can prevent long-term contamination issues. All water systems impacted by the LA wildfires initially issued a Do Not Drink – Do Not Boil water quality notice to their customers. These notices were issued as a precautionary measure until the condition of the system could be determined. Follow all local water advisories immediately.
If you suspect your water system has lost pressure, shut off your main water supply to prevent contamination from entering your plumbing lines. You should not hear any air being released from the faucet. The flow of water should be steady and uninterrupted. Any deviation from normal water flow patterns indicates potential system compromise.
During evacuation, consider turning off your water heater and main water supply. This prevents potential damage from pressure changes and reduces the risk of contamination entering your system while you’re away.
Post-Fire Recovery: The Critical Testing Phase
Returning home after a wildfire requires careful attention to your water system’s safety. Water systems are currently assessing impacts of the wildfire on their service areas, making repairs, testing for contamination and revising their notices, as appropriate. Before water quality notices can be lifted, water systems must conduct thorough water quality testing, and contaminant levels must meet all state and federal regulatory requirements.
Professional water testing becomes essential during recovery. Tap water in standing homes 11 months after the fire contained low concentrations of benzene in 1% of samples, but methylene chloride was present in 19% of samples, including several above regulatory limits. Elevated methylene chloride was associated with greater distance from the water meter to the tap, longer stagnation time, and the presence of a destroyed structure on the service connection.
If your drinking water comes from your own private well, some signs your water supply may have been impacted by wildfires include: Changes in water appearance, clarity, color, smell and/or taste. Don’t rely on your senses alone—professional testing is required to detect dangerous chemicals that may be odorless and colorless.
The Recovery Process: Professional Restoration
Water system recovery following wildfire contamination is a complex, multi-stage process that requires professional expertise. Systems will first flush and then stagnate distribution lines before testing to determine if they are contaminated. If contaminated zones in the distribution system are identified, systems will conduct flushing with fresh water to remove contaminants, stagnate and retest. Once sample test results are acceptable, systems will reduce or cancel the notices.
This is where having access to a qualified emergency plumber placerville becomes invaluable. Murray Plumbing responds with a sense of urgency and extensive firsthand experience with plumbing repair. With a 5-Star reputation, Murray Plumbing proudly offers free estimates and fair pricing, putting quality first every step of the way. Our team has over 24 years of residential and commercial plumbing experience, including repipe, bathroom additions, sewer camera inspections, sewer cleaning and plumbing repair.
Professional plumbers experienced in wildfire recovery understand the specific challenges of post-fire water system restoration. Millions of water softeners are used in residences across North America yet their impact on water quality and ability to be decontaminated following hydrocarbon exposure has received little scrutiny. Laboratory testing of actual water softeners was conducted. Results indicate the need for health officials and building owners to pay attention to and remove contamination from these devices for safe plumbing use.
Long-term Protection and Monitoring
Recovery from wildfire water contamination isn’t a one-time fix—it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. A survey was conducted to understand how the needs and questions of households affected who were faced with the delivery of contaminated water and plumbing for more than 6 months. This extended timeline emphasizes the importance of working with experienced professionals throughout the recovery process.
Murray Plumbing is licensed and insured, servicing Placerville, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Diamond Springs, Camino, Pollock Pines, Coloma, Folsom, and the westward side of the Sierra Nevada area. Whether you need to schedule a repair or you need immediate emergency solutions, Murray Plumbing is prepared to help! With a 5-Star reputation, Murray Plumbing proudly offers free estimates and fair pricing, putting quality first every step of the way.
Regular water quality testing should become part of your post-fire maintenance routine, especially if your property was in an affected area. Consider upgrading your water filtration systems and maintaining detailed records of all testing and repairs for future reference.
Community Resources and Support
Placerville residents don’t face wildfire recovery alone. During the recovery process, the Water Boards work closely with hazardous materials removal teams to ensure that water quality and watershed health are protected. Water Boards staff are currently deployed to the CalOES Debris Removal Task Force (removing hazardous materials) and the CalOES Watershed Debris Flow Task Force (mitigating post-fire debris flow and contaminated runoff).
Stay informed about local water quality notices and recovery efforts through official channels. Drinking water notices remain in effect until water can be used normally again by customers; your local water service will have the most up-to-date info. Building relationships with trusted local professionals before emergencies strike ensures you’ll have reliable support when you need it most.
Wildfire season in Placerville is an ongoing reality, but with proper preparation, immediate response, and professional recovery support, homeowners can protect their families and restore their water systems safely. Remember that water contamination from wildfires can persist long after the flames are extinguished, making professional expertise and ongoing monitoring essential components of your recovery strategy.