The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power is beginning repairs Wednesday on a broken water system that affects thousands of their customers.
The municipal utility is calling on customers in the Granada Hills and Porter Ranch neighborhoods to immediately conserve water, due to the need for an emergency repair at a local LADWP water pump station.
On Tuesday, a valve that controls the flow of water failed to open while water system crews were making repairs at a pump station that connects to a 10-million gallon water tank that serves the area, resulting in the cut off of the water flowing into the pipes that serves the area, the agency explained.
Beginning early Wednesday, approximately 9,200 LADWP customers in portions of both communities, bounded by Rinaldi Avenue to the south, Balboa Boulevard to the east, De Soto Avenue to the west and the foothills and hills to the north, are expected to experience water service disruptions when morning water use peaks, according to the LADWP.
Crews on site are working as quickly and safely as possible to make complex repairs, said LADWP. To help restore and maintain water pressure and supply, LADWP has requested support from a provider of high-capacity pumps and hoses to resupply water in the 54-inch trunk line feeding the water tank, the water agency said. In addition, LADWP crews have begun soil and earth removal in order to gain access and repair the valve located 20 feet underground.
While crews are working on the repairs, customers may lose water pressure and eventually use all the water in the tank serving the area, the LADWP cautions. The water agency urges customers in the area to conserve as much as possible by turning off sprinklers, washing machines and dishwashers for the next 24 hours.
LADWP expects the excavation to take 14-16 hours before actual repairs can begin, and the agency anticipates repairs to be completed on Friday, Aug. 8th.
LADWP is coordinating with the Los Angeles Fire Department to develop a water supply contingency plan for the area, including providing water tankers while this work is in progress, and is also coordinating with the Los Angeles Police Department. In addition, the agency is setting up water distribution locations in the following areas to provide drinking water to customers:
- Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park, 20500 Sesnon Blvd, Northridge, CA 91326
- O’Melveny Park, 17300 Sesnon Blvd., Granada Hills, CA 91344
- Intersection of Tampa Ave. And Sesnon Blvd. on the border of Northridge and Porter Ranch
The hours of operation for these locations are scheduled to be released Wednesday morning.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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