Water pollution becomes a secondary consequence of California fires
October 24, 2007

The record-setting wildfires near San Diego are not only destroying hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of property, they're also creating tremendous volumes of ash. The ash, in turn, creates both a nuisance and a health hazard, which some people have been trying to contain by wetting down. But the area's water-quality regulator is asking people to avoid washing ash into storm drains, because that ash could end up contaminating the city's water supplies. Instances like this serve as a strong reminder that all water is recycled, so that anything consumed today as drinking water has also been stormwater and wastewater. The H₂O molecule lives many lives.





last revised October 2007