Using the fireplace as an alternative to turning on the heater pollutes not only the air, but the water, too, which can lead to health problems. In the wake of California's power crisis, some households have tried to skimp on electricity and gas usage in order to save money. However, the West Valley Clean Water Program says that residents should be aware of the adverse effects of burning wood in their fireplaces. The program, a cooperative effort of the cities of Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno, has issued a warning to local residents to cut back on wood burning. While it has been known for several years that wood burning pollutes the air, most people don't know that the Bay Area's water supply is severely affected by the air.
Wood burning emits certain chemical compounds known as dioxins.
Chlorine bleaching, paper production processes, incinerators and cigarettes are among other sources of dioxin. Through fog and rain, dioxins end up in the water supply. West Valley Clean Water Program Manager Sheila Tucker says that the Environmental Protection Agency conducts water studies every two years. Recent results show that all of the creeks in the Bay Area, as well as the San Francisco Bay, have high levels of dioxin. The EPA labeled these bodies of water polluted.