Bushfires and the Risks to Drinking Water Quality

During active fires, forest litter is replaced by an ash and a charcoal layer with ash settling on lakes and reservoirs. Rainfall events post-fire can have a significant effect on water quality; from increased rates of erosion, increased sediments and turbidity and the introduction of a range of chemicals and precursors into the water supply. 

This factsheet highlights  the priority issues for concern, along with secondary issues that have been seen to arise across Australia and internationally.