The frequency and intensity of wildfires has increased over the past few decades. Wildfires represent an acute perturbation to watersheds, and the impacts include changes in ecosystems, sediment mobilization and overall water quality. The changes in water quality are a particular concern to drinking water utilities. These effects include enhanced mobilization of sediments, increases in concentration of nutrients and TOC, and changes to the potential to form disinfection byproducts (DBP). Over the past 10 years, my group has studied the impacts that wildfires can have on water quality and treatment operations. In this presentation, I will provide an overview regarding the specific effects that wildfires can have on water quality, treatment, and disinfection byproduct formation. The presentation will also cover issues related to fires at the wildland urban interface.
Presenter: Fernando L. Rosario-Ortiz, D.Env., Professor, Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
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