Wildfire season is increasingly jeopardizing drinking water quality due to contamination from ash and sediment. New research indicates that these pollutants can affect water sources for up to a decade, a concern amplified by climate change and frequent wildfires—over 68,000 incidents this year alone. Many U.S. municipalities rely on forested watersheds that are ill-equipped to handle wildfire contamination, leading to issues like heavy metals and harmful algal blooms. Cities such as Las Vegas, New Mexico, have faced severe consequences, including a $148 million treatment plant overhaul and months without safe water. Utilities are urgently adapting to these challenges.
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