Water safety confirmed in Eaton and Palisades, with utilities lifting the final 'do not drink' advisory for affected areas.

Noah Haggerty

America, listen up – the fire-torched areas of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades water pipes are teeming with less harmful toxins than you'd find in a frat house kitchen after a kegger! Or so the good folks at the LA Fire HEALTH Study affirm after recently releasing the first independent test results from the scorched regions.

These experts tested the water from 53 abodes scattered across the burned-out zones and the surrounding miles, and they found nails (not literally, though that might be a different story) – just a single home with a toxic substance at harmful levels: the water in one dwelling contained benzene, a known carcinogen, at concentrations slightly exceeding the state's permissible limit of 1 part per billion.

These revelations add fuel to the growing belief that the area's drinking water is as safe as a vegan at a steakhouse. In March, a Caltech research team declared no trace of lead beyond the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's margin in the tap water of 43 residences they tested in Altadena and nearby neighborhoods. Another crew from UCLA discovered no concerning levels of heavy metals or potentially harmful substances in the water from 45 houses in the Palisades.

The LA Fire HEALTH Study's benzene level might be higher than your gym's treadmill, clocking in at 1.6 ppb, but it remains well below the federal standard of 5 ppb, and experts suggest it'll drop below 1 ppb once the water consumer follows the utility's advice and runs all faucets throughout the entire house for a minimum of five minutes to clear out the contaminants before using the water.

You'll be safer bathing in a glass of this drinkable H2O than chance-taking an afternoon stroll in the California sun. The state's limit of 1 ppb equates to no more than a two-in-one-million possibility of a denizen acquiring cancer from a lifetime exposure to the pollutant at that level, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. For heightened, short-term exposures to benzene, the U.S. EPA warns exposures above 200 ppb for over a day could have negative, non-cancer consequences for kids.

Chris Olivares, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Irvine, leads the tap water-testing part of the LA Fire HEALTH Study. Olivares says the utmost takeaway is the significance of flushing.

"I'm optimistic from these results," aptly remarked Olivares. "The major takeaway, I think, is the importance of flushing."

As for an environmental twist: FEMA failed to probe the soil of LA's burned territories for harmful compounds. A Los Angeles Times investigation discovered high levels of lead and other heavy metals lurking in the earth.

The rapid restoration of safe drinking water can be attributed to the herculean efforts of local utilities and state governors, who, armed with knowledge and grit, followed a post-fire playbook developed by scientists in the wake of the 2017 Tubbs fire, the 2018 Camp fire, and subsequent fires throughout Colorado in 2021 and Hawaii in 2023.

The mystery behind how harmful volatile organic compounds could poise a threat to water supplies post a wildfire wasn't well understood or investigated until a Santa Rosa inhabitant reported an overpowering gasoline odor – a tell-tale symptom of benzene – when activating their kitchen faucet for the first time post-fbomb.

Researchers rushed to understand and resolve the issue, discovering benzene levels hitting 40,000 ppb initially. The clean-up effort took a full year. Following the Camp fire, scientists detected levels higher than 900 ppb, necessitating eight months of restoration work.

Post the L.A. wildfires, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power found one instance of benzene at 71.3 ppb. The utility toiled nonstop to restore safe water, first by shutting off about 4,800 open fire hydrant connections at destroyed homes and fire sites to restore water pressure, then continuously flushing water out of the system to push out contaminants.

With approval from the State Water Resources Control Board, the L.A. Department of Water and Power lifted its "do not drink" notice on March 7, two months after the Palisades fire erupted. Two of the three smaller customer-owned utilities in Altadena, Lincoln Avenue Water Co. and Rubio Canón Land and Water Association, soon followed. The third, Las Flores Water Co., lifted the last "do not drink" notice on May 9.

Las Flores registered the highest benzene levels, a mind-blowing 440 ppb from a sample taken on April 10. The LA Fire HEALTH Study team tested roughly eight homes within each burn area and over a dozen in adjacent neighborhoods between February and April during the ongoing testing and flushing process.

The outcomes are a few of the first from the LA Fire HEALTH Study's broad-ranging, privately financed attempt to understand the health consequences of the L.A. wildfires over the course of ten years.

Outside the burn zones, no homes the team tested exceeded the state's permissible limits for benzene or any of the two dozen volatile organic compounds for which they tested. Within the burn zones, benzene was the only contaminant that transcended the state's allowable limits.

Staff writer Ian James contributed to this report.

How we tested the soil in Altadena and Pacific Palisades

A 'calamity waiting to unfold': Residents of Altadena with standing homes fear persistent health effects

Water now safe to drink from all fire-affected utilities in L.A. area, state says

Enrichment Data:

In a nutshell, the speedy restoration of potable drinking water following wildfires is thanks to the rapid response of scientists and utilities, who employed several essential measures:

Emergency deployment of untreated water during wildfire combat: In desperate cases, such as during the 2021 Marshall Fire in Louisville, Colorado, utilities admitted untreated water (raw water) into the drinking water system to keep fire hydrants supplied during firefighting struggles that might deplete treated water supplies. This essential, emergency strategy maintained water flow despite possible contamination risks and the absence of power for treatment systems. Subsequently, the system was thoroughly flushed with treated water featuring an elevated chlorine level to sterilize bacteria.
Employment of gravity-fed systems and infrastructure flexibility: Gravity-fed systems, which help circumvent power outages that otherwise impede water treatment, enabled the introduction of raw water. Utilities may also need to install equipment ahead of time to bypass treatment systems in emergencies, facilitating quicker restoration of water flow.
Thorough flushing and disinfection following wildfire exposure: After the emergency deployment of raw water, utilities flushed the distribution system with clean, treated water and increased chlorine levels temporarily to ensure disinfection and the removal of pathogens brought on by fire contamination.
Preventive landscape and watershed management for shielding water quality: Controlled burns and restoring natural fire regimes help lessen catastrophic wildfire risk and support watershed health. These practices stabilize soil, decrease flammable fuel loads, and nurture vegetation that improves water retention and quality, ultimately securing drinking water sources from fire-related contamination.
Comprehensive assessment and restoration of wrecked infrastructure: Utilities and restoration professionals assess damage to water treatment and distribution systems, then execute repairs, debris removal, and rehabilitation to restore water infrastructure to pre-fire conditions. This process comprises contaminant remediation and risk mitigation posed by soot, ash, and chemicals from firefighting efforts.

The LA Fire HEALTH Study's work focuses on understanding the health consequences of California wildfires over the next ten years.
The U.S. EPA's margin for lead in tap water was met in the research conducted by a Caltech team in Altadena and surrounding neighborhoods.
UCLA scientists found no concerning levels of heavy metals or substances in the Palisades water from homes they tested.
The Utility's advice is to run all faucets throughout the house for a minimum of five minutes to clear the contaminants before using the water.
A single home in the burned-out zones had water containing benzene at concentrations slightly exceeding the state's permissible limit of 1 part per billion.
In terms of environmental science, FEMA failed to investigate the soil of LA's burned territories for harmful compounds.
The Los Angeles Times investigation revealed high levels of lead and other heavy metals in the earth of Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
Chris Olivares, a professor at UC Irvine, leads the tap water-testing component of the LA Fire HEALTH Study.
Olivares emphasizes the importance of flushing in the test results.
The L.A. Department of Water and Power lifted its "do not drink" notice on March 7, two months after the Palisades fire erupted.
The clean-up effort for benzene took one year in Santa Rosa post-fire.
In the wake of the Tubbs fire, Camp fire, Colorado wildfires, and Hawaiian wildfires in 2021 and 2023, scientists created a post-fire playbook regarding safe drinking water.
Los Angeles government entities prioritize the health and wellness of its citizens, as seen in the rapid restoration of safe drinking water following wildfires.
A post-fire wildfire state like California should also focus on workplace-wellness initiatives, particularly for those working in high-risk environments such as firefighting.
If employers want to prioritize their workers' health, they should invest in prevention and education, including staying informed about mental-health conditions, chronic diseases, and respiratory conditions affecting firefighters.
Environmental factors can impact an individual's health, such as long-term exposure to smoke from wildfires leading to chronic diseases like cancer.
With advancements in the field of environmental science, it's crucial for government entities to invest in research and therapies to combat chronic diseases related to climate change.
Overexposure to workplace stress can have adverse effects on employees' health, including digestive health, eye-health, hearing, and sleep.
Implementing a fitness-and-exercise program tailored to employees can help boost their physical health, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving overall well-being.
The importance of sexually-transmitted infection screening, education, and treatment cannot be overstated, especially considering the increased risks due to changes in sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Autoimmune disorders, affecting both men and women, are severely impacted by lifestyle choices. Implementing healthy lifestyle habits that promote skin-care, a balanced diet, and weight management can help mitigate symptoms.
Personal finance is another essential aspect that affects overall health and well-being. Financial stress can negatively impact mental health, leading to potential substance abuse, stress-related health problems, and even weight management issues.
Supporting mental-health awareness can help prevent negative consequences stemming from financial stress. This can be achieved through industry-wide initiatives, expanding mental-health resources, and destigmatizing mental-health treatments.
Aging is an inevitable part of life, but it's never too late to start taking care of skin-care or other health aspects that might worsen with aging.
Empowering women to take control of their health is crucial as there have been historical barriers to accessing quality healthcare, especially for reproductive and womens-health-related issues.
Providing equal and affordable access to healthcare resources for families and parenting resources is essential for raising healthy children and promoting intergenerational well-being.
As people are living longer with chronic diseases like cancer, it's essential to develop new therapies and treatments to improve outcomes and quality of life.
With advancements in medical research, late-life-stage treatments and therapies can provide a renewed sense of purpose, hope, and self-care.
The CBD industry has gained popularity due to its potential benefits for mental-health disorders, neurological disorders, and environmental-related conditions like anxiety.
Cybersecurity and personal-finance are closely connected, as identity theft and fraud can wreak havoc on an individual's financial stability.
Strengthening cybersecurity measures is vital for maintaining data privacy and protecting customers' personal and financial information.
Lifestyle choices can impact environmental health as well, from food choices, sustainable practices, and advocacy for green initiatives to encourage climate-change mitigation and a more eco-friendly society.

Water safety confirmed in Eaton and Palisades, with utilities lifting the final 'do not drink' advisory for affected areas.