After a wildfire: your tap, the ash and the gas
Under a Do Not Drink notice after a wildfire in Los Angeles, don't drink or cook with tap water, and don't try to treat it. Boiling and filtering won't make it safe. Use bottled water until your utility lifts the notice.
From the Plumbing Across L.A. desk. Updated .
The 2025 fires gave Los Angeles two recent examples. In Pacific Palisades, LADWP's first Do Not Drink notice came on January 10, 2025, and its all-clear for tap water came on March 7, 2025. After the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Water and Power lifted its last notice on January 24, 2025. Timing differs by system, so the notice for your address is the one to follow.
What does a Do Not Drink notice mean after a wildfire?
It means tap water is off limits for drinking and cooking until your utility says otherwise. LA County's guidance says to use bottled water for drinking, baby formula and juice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice and preparing food. The same applies to pets.
Don't treat the water yourself. The county says boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting water stand will not make it safe.
The reason is chemistry. When pressure drops very low, a system can suck in contaminants from burned structures and equipment, including benzene and other volatile compounds. Common household filters and bleach don't remove those, and boiling can send them into the air you breathe.
| Notice | What it asks |
|---|---|
| Do Not Drink / Do Not Boil | No drinking or cooking with tap water. Boiling doesn't help and can make it worse |
| Boil water notice | A different notice, which LADWP says it may issue in an emergency such as a major quake. Follow its exact instructions |
| Notice lifted | Follow any flushing steps your utility gives for your house |
Home test kits don't settle the question. The state's fire recovery site says they aren't reliable for this. Wait for your utility.
On your street
- Westside & Beach Pacific Palisades is LADWP territory, and its 2025 notice came from LADWP. Santa Monica runs its own water system and issues its own notices.
- Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank Three separate utilities serve these cities, and other agencies serve some addresses near Altadena, so use the county's water provider finder.
How should you handle pipes after a wildfire notice is lifted?
Do what your own utility tells you for your address. Pasadena pointed customers to its own Eaton Fire water FAQ for tips on flushing internal pipes after evacuation. Instructions like these are specific to each system, so don't borrow a neighbor's.
Water that comes back after an outage can look odd. LADWP says the pressure and turbulence when water returns can dislodge mineral deposits from pipes, and these clog screens and aerators. Discoloration doesn't tell you the water is safe or unsafe, though. The notice does that.
If your house was damaged, or plumbing was exposed to heat, ask your utility and a licensed plumber what needs checking before you use the water. Any permit work goes through your building department; in the City of Los Angeles that is LADBS.
How do you clean up wildfire ash safely?
Keep it out of the air and off your skin. LA County says ash from burned buildings may contain asbestos, arsenic and lead. Keep children away from it and from anything covered in it. People with heart or lung conditions should ask a doctor before returning or cleaning.
- Wear a fitted N95 or better, gloves, long sleeves, long pants and goggles. N95s don't protect against gases.
- Use no leaf blowers. Avoid dry sweeping that lifts dust. The county's method is gentle sweeping followed by wet mopping, and wiping surfaces with damp cloths.
- Don't use shop vacuums or regular household vacuums, which can blow fine particles back into the air. HEPA-filter vacuums can be used.
- Bag the ash in plastic before it goes into the trash. Wash skin with soap and warm water if ash gets on it.
That guidance is for homes without fire damage. For burned structures or heavy soot, the county suggests talking to your insurer and a qualified cleaning or restoration contractor first.
Is gas safe to use after a wildfire?
Follow SoCalGas, and don't relight anything yourself. Its meter guidance, reprinted by Azusa Light & Water, leaves relighting to its crews. If service was shut off, SoCalGas restores it, and a professional deals with what it finds.
What this means by age of house
- Before 1930Old galvanized pipe can shed scale when water returns, so expect clogged screens. Follow your utility's flushing steps first. See galvanized pipe.
- 1930s–1940sMixed old and new piping is common. Tell a plumber what you know, and don't cut into pipes to look.
- 1950s–1960sThe notice rules are the same. If a house on a slab or with attic lines was near the fire, ask a plumber what can be checked without opening things up.
- 1970s and newerNewer doesn't change the notice. If plastic piping or a meter connection was exposed to heat, ask your utility and a plumber.
Questions that come up
Is it safe to shower under a Do Not Drink notice?
Ask your utility, since its notice is the authority for your address and the answer can change with conditions. Don't assume.
Does a refrigerator filter make the water safe?
No. The county says common household filter systems can't remove chemicals like benzene.
How long does a notice last?
It varies. In 2025, Pasadena's was lifted in January, while LADWP's for the Palisades ran from January 10 until March 7.
What about hosing ash into the street?
The county suggests gently hosing down outdoor areas as part of wet cleaning. Check for any local limits and avoid spraying so hard that ash lifts into the air.
Would a home test clear the tap if the water looks clean?
No. Home test kits aren't reliable for this, according to the state. Wait for the utility to lift the notice.
Who handles this
- LADWPIts own notices, and their end, where it supplies water
- Pasadena Water and PowerNotices within Pasadena's service territory
- LA County Public HealthAsh, health and recovery guidance after fires
- SoCalGasGas smells and restarting service after a fire
What this was checked against
- County advice on returning after a fire: LA County Recovers
- Pacific Palisades all-clear: LADWP news room
- End of the Eaton Fire notice: Pasadena's utility
- L.A. fires resources: State of California
- Why water can run gritty after an outage: LADWP answers page
Sources read in November 2026. Rules and prices change: check the agency before you act.