Los Angeles Water Crisis: Residents Urged to Conserve as Repairs Face Delays
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Los Angeles officials are imploring residents in Porter Ranch and Granada Hills to drastically reduce water usage – including avoiding flushing toilets and watering lawns – as a multi-day water service outage threatens to prolong critical repairs. The disruption, triggered by a broken valve, has impacted approximately 9,200 households amid a scorching heatwave.
The crisis began on Tuesday when a key valve controlling water flow into the affected communities failed, cutting off service just as temperatures soared into the high 90s and low 100s. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) swiftly issued a boil water notice, warning that consumption of untreated water “could result in stomach or intestinal illness.”
Restoration Efforts Hampered by Demand
While water service was restored to many customers by Friday morning, the DWP cautioned against resuming normal usage. Crews are currently working to repair the broken valve, requiring excavation of a deep pit, and simultaneously attempting to fill and pressurize a large water tank serving the area. However, overnight demand significantly depleted the tank’s capacity, jeopardizing the restoration timeline.
“We are very concerned that if people continue to use the water that is coming out of their faucets today, it is going to delay the ability of the [Los Angeles Department of Water and Power] to get the line back and restored, and for your use of water to be back to normal, so that you don’t have to boil water, so that you don’t have to conserve,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated during a Saturday afternoon press conference.
Pressure Builds, Then Drops
On Saturday, crews were actively pumping water into the distribution system at Porter Ranch Drive and Rinaldi Street to bolster supply. The goal remains to fully restore the system by the early morning of August 11. However, DWP General Manager Janisse Quiñones emphasized that this timeline is contingent on maintaining adequate pressure within the system.
As of 1:30 pm on Saturday, the 10-million-gallon tank serving the area was only 20% full, a significant drop from an estimated 27% full just seven hours earlier. Quiñones attributed the decline to excessive consumption, noting that the tank lost the equivalent of one million gallons – roughly 776,000 toilet flushes – during peak demand periods.
Residents Struggle to Comply
Despite the urgent pleas for conservation, reports indicate that not all residents are adhering to the advisory. “Where I’m at, they’re not adhering to the rules,” one area resident, Robert Morris, told KTLA 5. “They’re still watering the grass. They’re making it hard on them. They’re trying to fix it.”
Several restaurants in the area have announced they are remaining open, relying on bottled water, alternative beverages, and deliveries of ice. Quiñones confirmed that her agency is identifying businesses connected to the damaged system, assuring that those currently operating are being supplied by unaffected sources.
Setback with Temporary Repair
The situation was further complicated on Saturday when a coupling on a temporary pipe, intended to augment water flow, unexpectedly failed, resulting in a significant water gusher in Granada Hills. According to DWP spokesperson Jessie Johnson, “Obviously, the manner in which it was drained this evening is not ideal, and was unfortunate.” While the blowout will delay repairs, officials believe the setback will amount to hours, not days.
The initial break occurred Tuesday while crews were working on a pump station connected to the water tank. The 54-inch-diameter pipe feeding the area remains offline as crews work around the clock to replace the broken valve. The complex repairs require excavation to a depth of 20 feet and careful maneuvering around critical infrastructure, including oil pipelines, a fiber optic line, and a gas line. Crews have completed approximately 85% of the excavation and are now digging by hand to avoid damaging adjacent utilities.
Resources Available to Residents
The DWP has established five locations to provide residents with access to essential resources:
- Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park (20500 Sesnon Blvd, Porter Ranch): Water bottle distribution, recycled water distribution, restrooms, showers, mobile laundry units (7 a.m. – 9 p.m.).
- O’Melveny Park (17300 Sesnon Blvd., Granada Hills): Water bottle distribution, recycled water distribution, restrooms (7 a.m. – 9 p.m.).
- Intersection of Tampa Ave. and Sesnon Blvd. (Northridge/Porter Ranch border): Water bottle distribution and recycled water distribution (7 a.m. – 9 p.m.).
- YMCA (11336 Corbin Street, Porter Ranch): Showers, mobile laundry units (5 a.m. – 10 p.m.).
- Intersection of Rinaldi and Louise Ave: Showers, mobile laundry units, restrooms (5 a.m. – 10 p.m.).
City Councilmember John Lee underscored the importance of patience, stating, “I know after two days of not having water, when we see that water sort of start trickling into our faucets, that we think all is okay, but in fact we need to build up that pressure.” The DWP aims to restore full system functionality by 3 a.m. on Monday, but the success of this effort hinges on residents’ commitment to conserving water in the coming hours.
