After the Camp Fire, damage and contamination to water lines in Paradise was extreme and considered nearly unprecedented. Just more than a year later, officials say restoration is well on its way.
The contamination was caused by melting plastic pipes and meters. As water pressure dropped off during the inferno, a vacuum formed in the pipes, pulling toxic gases into the lines.
Broken by heat into component substances, the plastic formed benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.
In the aftermath, experts were divided on a course of action. Months later, work is well underway.
“We have tested every single mainline. We are 86 percent done with all the testing of all the main lines in Paradise, and 98 percent of the main lines that we have tested are cleared.” Spokeswoman for the Paradise Irrigation District, Mickey Rich said.
Some contaminated water main segments are now isolated. Rich said they are in neighborhoods that remain depopulated and that they’ll be replaced as people move back.
As far as pipes leading to a home —a lateral — they also undergo testing. Rich said the water is kept in the pipes for 72 hours before being sampled, long enough for dangerous compounds to leach into the water and be detected by testing.
“When there is no contaminants that come back, we give you the clearance.” Rich said.
PID is concentrating on making repairs to infrastructure serving surviving homes and homes about to be reconstructed.