A water system break in two L.A. neighborhoods during a heatwave has been going on for days, and while crews continue to work night and day to fix the problem, faucets are still running dry on Saturday.
Per the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, a valve that feeds a 10 million-gallon water tank above the Porter Ranch area was damaged while crews were making repairs on Tuesday.
It is estimated that around 9,200 customers are without water in both Porter Ranch and Granada Hills due to the break.
The day after the break occurred, LADWP issued a boil water notice for Porter Ranch and Granada Hills, specifically areas north of Rinaldi Street or the 118 Freeway, whichever is further, and west of Balboa Boulevard.
While a temporary water pump was quickly installed by LADWP crews to compensate for the water loss, it proved to not be enough. Crews have been handing out drinking water to affected residents ever since, but lines at distribution centers have been long.
As the week progressed, crews worked around the clock to repair the issue as quickly as possible; on Saturday morning, LADWP stated that, as of 7 a.m., the 10 million-gallon tank was around 27% full, described as “a strong step forward.”
“To speed up the process, we installed an additional pump overnight, and two more are on the way,” LADWP said Saturday morning. “These extra pumps will boost water flow, allowing us to begin water quality testing earlier than usual — before repairs are fully complete.”
Residents are still being advised to keep their taps turned off so that crews don’t have to work as hard or for as long.
“Every time water is used, it lowers the level in the large tank our crews are working hard to refill and pressurize. Think of it like trying to fill a bathtub without a drain stopper — if water keeps flowing out, it takes much longer to fill up,” the water and power department explained.
KTLA spoke with residents on Saturday morning, some of whom have accepted their current fate, while others claim that neighbors aren’t following LADWP guidelines.
“I’ve noticed where I’m at that [my neighbors] aren’t adhering to the rules,” said Robert Morris. “They’re making it hard on [the crews] to fix this.”
Another woman who actually does have water at her house says that, despite the taps being on, she’s not touching them.
“No, I’m not running my water, even though I do have it,” the woman told KTLA 5’s Carlos Herrera on Saturday morning.
There are five water distribution locations set up across the area:
- Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park: 20500 Sesnon Blvd., Northridge
- O’Melveny Park: 17300 Sesnon Blvd., Granada Hills
- The intersection of Tampa Avenue and Sesnon Boulevard
- Porter Ranch YMCA: 11336 Corbin Street, Porter Ranch
- The intersection of Rinaldi and Louise avenues
Restrooms, showers and mobile laundry units are available at Holleigh Bernson Park and at Rinaldi and Louise.
While LADWP crews had initially hoped to have all repairs completed and service turned back on by the end of the weekend, that will likely not happen.
“We are making good progress and are expecting to have the excavation completed by [Sunday],” said Anselmo Collins, LADWP’s Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System. “Once we finish the excavation and the draining of the pipe, we will see where the system is — in other words, [whether] water is actually getting to the tank and the customers — and then we will initiate the process of removing the valve.”
“I don’t know if I can, at this point, tell you with certainty [whether service will be restored] on Monday or Tuesday,” he continued. “Our goal is to get it fixed as quickly as possible and as safely as possible as well.”
More resources for affected residents can be found here.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
