Sydney: Raging bushfires could threaten drinking water supply

With Australia still being plagued by raging wildfires, authorities in Sydney have raised concerns that wildfires near city's main drinking water catchment area, stating that ash clouds produced from fires could pollute water resource. According to reports, firefighters continued to put out fires that have been burning land around Lake Burragorang, which is provided for 80% of Sydney's drinking water sent via Warragamba Dam.

'Wildfires could threaten water supply'

While talking to a local media outlet, a professor at University of New South Wales said that wildfires could threaten water supply in two ways. He said that fires could damr pumping stations and pipes, ding that ash clouds could enter and pollute water.

According to reports, firefighters have mand to save main infrastructure of water catchment system. Also, with a severe lack of downpour, ash and or materials resulting from fires was accumulating washing rar than going into lake. According to reports, a downpour between 100mm to 200mm could wash residue into water, thus contaminating it.

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' relation between climate policies and wildfires'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on vember 21 denied that his climate policies h caused unprecedented bushfires and insisted that his government was doing eugh to tackle issue of global warming. Dozens of new blazes have been raging countryside and even Sydney has been engulfed in hazardous smoke. PM Morrison said that despite air quality, Australian government was 'doing ir bit' after refusing for weeks to register link between wildfires in county and climate change.

thick smog which covered Sydney on vember 21 raised concerns of people while fire services department said that smoke is expected to continue for several days. recent wildfires have destroyed more than 600 homes in country's most populous state. visories have been issued for people with respiratory or heart conditions to stay indoors and seek medical vice when necessary.

fires have been sparked by dry conditions after drought that prevailed for three years and experts believe that it has been intensified by climate change. It is a major factor that has spurred a sharp political debate in recent days. firefighters expect that fire bushes will continue for weeks without significant rainfall. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said re is just a 25 per cent chance that country's eastern coast will receive aver rainfall between December 1 and February 28.

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(With inputs from ncies)