Author: Andrew J. Whelton, Professor of Civil, Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University

The wildfires in the Los Angeles area have destroyed more than 10,000 structures, many of them homes, and firefighters continue to battle the infernos. Parts of Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and other California communities are now unrecognizable. As evacuation orders are lifted, safe drinking water should be top of mind for those residents able to return to their homes. What many people don’t realize is the extent to which their community drinking water systems can be damaged by fire, how their water is affected and what they can do about it. As an environmental engineer, I work with communities affected…