The Marshall Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, devastated the cities of Louisville and Superior on December 30, 2021. As the impacted communities recover, CDPHE Water Quality Control Division is coordinating with the water systems to protect customers from potential cross connection issues at fire-damaged service taps. Water testing done by CDPHE and the water suppliers after the fire showed that extreme heat and damage to homes and structures caused by fire can create harmful contaminants such as VOCs. These harmful contaminants from the damaged water infrastructure can impact the water supply through connections to the supplier’s distribution system by backflow of contaminants into the supplier’s distribution system.
For impacted connections where service was suspended, suppliers are consulting with the department before service can be returned. It is very important that customers do not reestablish water service to suspended service connections without approval by the supplier as it could cause potential contamination of the water system. To return service to a fire-impacted connection, suppliers are performing one of the following actions:
- Water quality sampling at the fire-impacted connection to ensure that no contaminants are present in the potable water supply.
- Installing an appropriate backflow prevention assembly at a non-impacted location to control the connection. The supplier must ensure that all installed backflow assemblies are tested by a certified cross-connection control technician upon installation. If a previously installed backflow assembly is suspected of being impacted by the fire, the assembly must be retested in order to confirm the connection is controlled.
- Replacing all water supply infrastructure including the meter pit and entire service line. If all water supply infrastructure has been replaced, the supplier can follow normal protocols for supplying water to a new connection. The suppliers are informing the department when this process has been completed at an impacted location.
CDPHE WQCD continues to support the water suppliers as they rebuild their communities impacted by the Marshall Fire. Governor Polis expressed his deep appreciation for all the utilities and this appreciation is echoed by CDPHE.
➽ Heather Young, PE, CWP, Field Services Section Manager
➽ Clayton Moores, PE, Field Unit I Manager
