In the wake of back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, Florida and its surrounding states have been left reeling from the destruction caused by these powerful storms. Hurricane Helene, which struck the Gulf Coast with 140 mph winds and a storm surge of over 15 feet, brought unprecedented flooding across the southeastern United States, affecting areas from Georgia to Western North Carolina to Virginia. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton followed suit, slamming into Florida’s peninsula with 100 mph winds and catastrophic rainfall, which qualified as a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event in some areas. Communities in St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Tampa were inundated with more than 18 inches of rain, resulting in widespread property damage, power outages, and loss of life.
While the immediate focus after these storms is often on rescue operations and rebuilding, a less visible but equally dangerous aftermath emerges: water contamination. The massive amounts of floodwater caused by hurricanes like Helene and Milton severely impact water quality by introducing pollutants, debris, and harmful chemicals into the water supply. As floodwaters recede, testing for contamination becomes critical, particularly in stormwater, where pollutants from urban areas, chemical spills, and agricultural runoff can severely compromise the safety of both drinking water and the environment.