California: little water to fight massive wildfires

Images of wildfires on the California coast, north of Los Angeles near Malibu and Santa Monica, captured global attention at the start of 2025. At least 2,000 buildings, primarily homes, were destroyed by fires in the Pacific Palisades residential area, known for its luxurious celebrity mansions. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds blowing at 161 km/h, the flames highlighted a recurring issue for California: inadequate water and power infrastructure amidst climate change and increasing urban populations.

While the causes of these widespread fires are still under investigation, many recall the 2018 Camp Fire – the deadliest wildfire in California’s history – which claimed 85 lives, destroyed nearly 18,000 buildings, and devastated several towns. That disaster was attributed to poor maintenance of wooden utility poles and ineffective forest management. Since then, local administrations have implemented measures to protect trees and reduce fire risks. In April, Los Angeles launched its Community Forest Management Plan, offering a range of guidelines to mitigate fire hazards and safeguard urban forests.

The 130-page document outlines various elements that can trigger wildfires, including the spread of invasive species. In California, at least six new invasive species – ranging from plants to insects – are identified annually. These species, often driven by climatic factors like drought, extreme heat, and abnormal humidity, cause irreparable damage to forests, making them more susceptible to fires.

Organizations such as the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other state and local agencies are consistently working to address fire risks. However, perspectives differ among forestry protection groups: some argue that wildfires have increased in both number and spread, while others believe the frequency has decreased, but the fires have become far more destructive. Both viewpoints stress the urgency of a robust water infrastructure system.

Images from early January showing Pacific Palisades engulfed in flames revealed the frustration of firefighting teams over dry fire hydrants. Local news channels aired firefighters’ complaints: “The hydrants are out of service!” Water storage tanks were depleted due to the immense demand for extinguishing the fires.

The California Water Commission unveiled its 2025 strategic plan just days before the Los Angeles fires. The plan’s introduction is striking: “Water in California is notoriously complex and contentious. As our climate becomes warmer, water issues may grow even more challenging and controversial.” The Commission aims to expand the Water Storage Investment Program, initiated in 2014, to fund innovative and modern water management systems.

2024 was the hottest year on record, marked by catastrophic natural disasters. According to a study by global insurance company Munich Re, Hurricane “Helene” in Florida caused $56 billion in damages, with $16 billion covered by insurance. Hurricane “Milton” inflicted $38 billion in damages, with $25 billion insured. Meanwhile, the Valencia floods resulted in $11 billion in damages and $4.2 billion in insurance claims.

Beyond human safety, climate-related temperature fluctuations impose significant financial burdens on society. The study estimates that natural disasters in 2024 cost a total of $320 billion, with $140 billion covered by insurance. This underscores the importance of efficient water infrastructure as a crucial tool to mitigate climate change impacts. Proper management of strategic water resources—from wastewater drainage systems to potable water pipelines—is key to preventing unsustainable economic losses.

Highly technological and efficient water infrastructure systems are being developed globally by private entities like Webuild, recognized again as the top company in the water sector by Engineering News Record (ENR) in 2024. Operating in the U.S. through its subsidiary Lane Construction, Webuild has excelled in areas like dam construction (Dams & Reservoirs) and wastewater management (Sanitary & Storm Sewers), which are critical for enhancing climate resilience.

Among these projects:

● the Anacostia River Tunnel which ensures the management and treatment of wastewater from Washington D.C.’s rivers, thus reducing the risk of city flooding;
● the wastewater treatment system built for the Riachuelo river in Buenos Aires, one of the most polluted in the world;
● the Intake 3 of Lake Mead, the network of tunnels built at great depths in the largest artificial lake in America which allows drinking water to be brought to the city of Las Vegas.

These infrastructure are added to all those works which aim to produce drinking water like desalination plants, and to manage and protect water, central projects precisely to reduce the impact of climate change on people and economic activities.