L.A. Water Reservoir Closure Contributes to Firefighting Challenges
A large reservoir in Pacific Palisades that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system was out of use when a ferocious wildfire destroyed thousands of homes and other structures nearby.
Reservoir Closure Due to Repairs
Officials told The Times that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117 million gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades.
Firefighting Challenges
The revelation comes among growing questions about why firefighters ran out of water while battling the blaze. Numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving firefighters struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames.
Department of Water and Power Response
Department of Water and Power officials have said that demand for water during an unprecedented fire made it impossible to maintain any pressure to hydrants at high elevations.
Expert Analysis
Had the reservoir been operable, it would have extended water pressure in the Palisades on Tuesday night, said former DWP general manager Martin Adams, an expert on the city’s water system. But only for a time.
“You still would have ended up with serious drops in pressure,” Adams said in an interview Thursday. “Would Santa Ynez [Reservoir] have helped? Yes, to some extent. Would it have saved the day? I don’t think so.”
DWP Official Acknowledges Contribution to Pressure Drop
A DWP official acknowledged that the reservoir’s absence likely contributed to some diminished pressure and dry hydrants in upper regions of the Palisades.
Root-Cause Analysis Underway
However, a spokesperson for the utility said in a statement that DWP was still evaluating the effect of the reservoir being placed offline, and that staffers were conducting a root-cause analysis.
Conclusion
The Santa Ynez Reservoir closure highlights the challenges faced by the Los Angeles water supply system during the recent wildfire. While the reservoir’s absence likely contributed to the firefighting challenges, it is unclear whether it would have made a significant difference in the outcome. The city is still evaluating the impact of the reservoir’s closure and conducting a root-cause analysis to determine the cause of the pressure drop.
FAQs
Q: Why was the Santa Ynez Reservoir closed?
A: The reservoir was closed for repairs to its cover.
Q: Did the reservoir’s closure contribute to the firefighting challenges?
A: Yes, the reservoir’s absence likely contributed to some diminished pressure and dry hydrants in upper regions of the Palisades.
Q: Would the reservoir have made a significant difference in the outcome of the fire?
A: It is unclear whether the reservoir would have made a significant difference in the outcome of the fire.
Q: When is the reservoir expected to reopen?
A: The reservoir is scheduled to reopen in February.
Q: Why was the reservoir not filled with water in advance of the fire?
A: The utility would have been betting that there would be a fire that wipes out the whole neighborhood, which no one has ever seen before. It would have been a strange bet.
