When Disaster Strikes Nearby, Wastewater Systems Face The Surge

California’s increasing exposure to wildfires, earthquakes, and extreme weather creates challenges that extend beyond the immediate destruction. And California is not alone.

Wherever disaster strikes, however, ripple effects spread far beyond the epicenter. These problems include wastewater systems pushed to their limits by population displacement.

When events like raging wildfires drive thousands into neighboring towns, local treatment facilities face unexpected surges—spikes they’re rarely built to handle.

Wildfires, like those that recently spread across the Los Angeles metropolitan area, force entire communities to evacuate. As people relocate, every flush, shower, and load of laundry adds to wastewater plants already operating near capacity. These surges stress operations and even threaten to overwhelm them.

So, what can operators do to safeguard their facility’s capacity and to protect incoming surges in demand?