As wildfires burned across Los Angeles in early January, nearly 200,000 people were put under evacuation orders. In the weeks since, these residents have slowly started returning, some to properties that were lost to the fires and others to structures that seemed to be untouched but where less visible threats lurk. That includes potential contaminants coursing through the water pipes beneath their feet, which can incur fire damage that takes days, if not weeks, to address. … Experts say there is a need for government officials and utility agencies across the United States to step up their preparations and response to extreme weather events in recognition that they have become more common and are increasingly leaving communities cut off from the water sources they rely on.