U.S. Wildfires Threaten Water Supplies, Contamination Lasts Over a Decade
Wildfires across the U.S. are increasingly threatening water supplies, with new studies indicating that contamination can persist for over a decade. In 2026 alone, 68,179 wildfires have burned over 9.5 million acres, impacting water quality and availability. After a wildfire, ash and organic matter are carried by rains into streams, which feed water treatment plants. This influx of contaminants, including heavy metals and dissolved organic matter, is often beyond the capacity of existing treatment facilities, which are typically designed for high-quality water. For instance, the City of Las Vegas, New Mexico, experienced months without water after the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire contaminated the Gallinas River in 2022, forcing residents to rely on bottled water and leading to plans for a new treatment plant. Wildfires make forested watersheds, which supply water to nearly two-thirds of U.S. municipalities, vulnerable, with impacts on water quality lasting up to eight years, according to a University...
