Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review
Abstract Bushfire events can directly and indirectly impact drinking water distribution networks. Water authorities around the world have experienced compromised water supply and quality in the aftermath of recent bushfires, necessitating costly investigation and repair. Future climate models predic...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Water Resources Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR038225 |
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| _version_ | 1849687910254641152 |
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| author | Vaughan Mitchell Jinzhe Gong Ellen Moon Wenyan Wu |
| author_facet | Vaughan Mitchell Jinzhe Gong Ellen Moon Wenyan Wu |
| author_sort | Vaughan Mitchell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Bushfire events can directly and indirectly impact drinking water distribution networks. Water authorities around the world have experienced compromised water supply and quality in the aftermath of recent bushfires, necessitating costly investigation and repair. Future climate models predict an escalation of bushfire weather events with a significant increase in the severity and frequency in many regions, for which water authorities must now prepare. Currently, there is no systematic review on the impact that bushfires can have on drinking water networks and how these impacts can be evaluated and investigated. The current study provides a systematic review of academic literature, agency response, water operator reports and media releases on these two emerging topics. On bushfire impacts, the review focuses on the physical impact to water assets, potential risk to water quality in the distribution network, and possible interruptions to water supply. On evaluation and investigation methods, the review summarizes available testing methods for evaluating physical damages to assets, identification of chemical or biological contaminants that may compromise water quality, and the identification of, or elective, interruption of water service. Gaps in our knowledge on how drinking water assets are physically damaged and how services are interrupted due to water quality testing or results are also identified to inform water operators, government agencies and researchers. Further research into the impact of bushfire temperature and duration on various types of pipe materials exposed is discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e290d4cb165b4987b4dec5f4be7e63eb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0043-1397 1944-7973 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Resources Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-e290d4cb165b4987b4dec5f4be7e63eb2025-08-20T03:22:12ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732025-03-01613n/an/a10.1029/2024WR038225Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A ReviewVaughan Mitchell0Jinzhe Gong1Ellen Moon2Wenyan Wu3School of Engineering Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC AustraliaSchool of Engineering Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC AustraliaSchool of Engineering Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC AustraliaDepartment of Infrastructure Engineering Melbourne University Parkville VIC AustraliaAbstract Bushfire events can directly and indirectly impact drinking water distribution networks. Water authorities around the world have experienced compromised water supply and quality in the aftermath of recent bushfires, necessitating costly investigation and repair. Future climate models predict an escalation of bushfire weather events with a significant increase in the severity and frequency in many regions, for which water authorities must now prepare. Currently, there is no systematic review on the impact that bushfires can have on drinking water networks and how these impacts can be evaluated and investigated. The current study provides a systematic review of academic literature, agency response, water operator reports and media releases on these two emerging topics. On bushfire impacts, the review focuses on the physical impact to water assets, potential risk to water quality in the distribution network, and possible interruptions to water supply. On evaluation and investigation methods, the review summarizes available testing methods for evaluating physical damages to assets, identification of chemical or biological contaminants that may compromise water quality, and the identification of, or elective, interruption of water service. Gaps in our knowledge on how drinking water assets are physically damaged and how services are interrupted due to water quality testing or results are also identified to inform water operators, government agencies and researchers. Further research into the impact of bushfire temperature and duration on various types of pipe materials exposed is discussed.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR038225bushfireclimate changewater distribution networkdrinking water qualitypipe chemical leaching |
| spellingShingle | Vaughan Mitchell Jinzhe Gong Ellen Moon Wenyan Wu Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review Water Resources Research bushfire climate change water distribution network drinking water quality pipe chemical leaching |
| title | Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review |
| title_full | Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review |
| title_short | Bushfire Impact on Drinking Water Distribution Networks and Investigation Methods: A Review |
| title_sort | bushfire impact on drinking water distribution networks and investigation methods a review |
| topic | bushfire climate change water distribution network drinking water quality pipe chemical leaching |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR038225 |
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