L.A. sees increase in 'major blowouts' in water system; officials eye rate hike to cover fixes

There is a mystery coursing beneath the streets of Los Angeles.

Every few days, another clue comes shooting up to the surface. A few recent ones include a geyser that flooded homes and businesses in Sherman Oaks, a sinkhole that almost swallowed a firetruck in Valley Village and a small flood near the tony shopping district on Melrose Avenue.

After each of these water main breaks, which took place over the last 10 days, Department of Water and Power officials were quick to point out that leaks are nothing out of the ordinary. Los Angeles has about 1,400 ruptures a year in its 7,200 miles of pipe, a decrease over past years and a rate-per-mile-of-pipe that is much better than other cities with aging infrastructure.

But as they analyzed these incidents more closely, DWP engineers uncovered a conundrum: Though the number of leaks citywide is down, the number that are “major blowouts” in which water comes shooting up through pavement, wreaking havoc and racking up the repair bills, is up over the last three months. And engineers have no idea why. 

The most recent blowout was Tuesday morning, when a broken main on Exposition Boulevard caused officials to close the thoroughfare between Crenshaw and Degnan boulevards and cut off water to several local businesses.

James McDaniels, who is in charge of water operations for the DWP, told commissioners Tuesday that the uptick in “major blowouts” is “not to the point we can’t handle it.”

But he also noted that in order to complete repairs to aging infrastructure, DWP officials plan to ask the City Council to approved an increase in water rates in the next few years. DWP officials say the rate increase has long been factored into their plans, but some on the City Council said they were unhappy to hear of it.

“They have to make a case for that,” said Councilwoman Jan Perry. She also said she was concerned to hear about the increase in major blowouts, and took “no comfort” from the fact that Los Angeles’ rate of leaks is lower than other cities. “We have to get to the cause as to why this has increased. People can get hurt. Property can be lost,” she said.

Some speculated that there has been an increase in leaks because of strange summer weather, which has fluctuated between hot and cold, stressing pipes.

--Jessica Garrison

Comments

[Wedge]

It can't be because they're asking us to water our lawns all at the same time in a very limited window, can it?

[D. Lance]

Has the DWP and Law Enforcement looked into the possibility that these much too often "major blowouts" could be the work of terrorists, home grown or otherwise? Or perhaps even the dirty work of local gangs or mad pranksters trying to get a sick private laugh?

I, for one, don't believe in coincidence. Surely, something out of the ordinary is going on here.

[nick patsaouras]

The water infrastructure upgrade should be contracted out. It has been documented; it will be cheaper, thus no need for an increase of water rates, done much faster , and create thousands of good paying jobs in the construction industry, the hardest hit in this great recession.

[KS]

So... maybe the combination of: aging infrastructure and drought conditions causing aquafers (or one major one in that area) traditionally hydrated drying up thus shifting previously stable ground?

[James Cisneros]

James McDaniels, who is in charge of water operations for the DWP, told commissioners Tuesday that the uptick in “major blowouts” is “not to the point we can’t handle it.”

I say ... WELL THAN FIX IT! and stop finding ways to charge taxpayers more.

Every new season my family cleans house, fix and repair. The DWP has records of when new pipes are laid down and how long before a new one is needed. Stop paying the "higher ups," and get their sad rear ends out on the street fixing the problem.

A conundrum my ....

[Mark Smith]

Here is a resounding no to the water Nazi's. The DWP feels like we are all lucky to have them provide services. They run the company like a kingdom and have no problem jacking the rates like a private company.

[viewer]

what is DWP doing with all the money from the new HIGHER rates? I guess if you mismanage your funds, you just ask for (take) more...

[janet]

Can it be because we're all watering only Monday and Thursday mornings and evenings, putting extra stress on the pipes? Anyone rule it OUT as a cause or do a study? OF course this would be just another excuse for new taxes -- then they'll debate over where the pipes will get laid first. It will be political and if it's in the hills and areas like Melrose, where pipes are bursting AND overhead electrical wires go down in every wind and storm and cause fires, will be called "environmental racism." Has anyone mapped where the breaks are, and found a pattern? Where are the pipes the oldest -- besides the hills? Logic will be needed to minimize the politics of the situation.

[Y.K.]

Could it be that the watering pattern imposed upon us by the DWP is causing an abnormal stress on the City's plumbing system? Now that we are, the mayor not withstanding, watering our yards on the same exact days during the same time periods, is the city forced to increase the water pressure to make up for that demand? At my house, I blew two sprinkler valves and the plumber measured our water pressure from the street at 110 psi; whereas the sprinkler valves are set to withstand 80 psi.

[Patti]

The Public Utilities Commission should NOT approve a rate-hike for 100 year-old pipes in Los Angeles. If they had kept them serviced (like they are PAID to do) then they wouldn't have the expense all at once.

As they say, an OUNCE of PREVENTION is worth a POUND of CURE.

Thanks.

[Mike]

My theory is the mandatory water conservation is the cause (or partially). No one is watering their lawns at night anymore which coupled with the aging pipes can't handle the standing pressure.

[Gwennie]

2 weeks ago, DWP was proposing that higher water rates effective in December and were turned down. Now, today, they need more money because of the pipe ruptures. What about the 4 billion dollars that taxpayers allocated 5 years ago (averaging 2 dollars a month per household) to fix these pipes? Why has the DWP only managed to replace less than 2 miles per year?

How interesting that at a time when City Council is planning to lay off city workers, DWP suddenly has these urgent needs to raise rates? Coincidence?

[melissa]

Hello? Techtonic plates shifting anyone?

[Donna]

Are you kidding? Why do we pay such high fees as it is? Now we need to pay more for the up keep LADWP should have been doing all along? Ridiculous. Of course the customers will have zero say in any of this.

[melissa]

Does "strange summer weather" mean fires stressing the enviorment? Because we had a heatwave last year too. I think it's the tectonic plates shifting around a bit. Can't the earthquake genius' check into this...or is that a no-no to put out there, lest people panic. A geyser???? How can a geyser be from "strange weather"?

[Marlena]

Instead of giving workers huge salaries and pensions, the money should have went to replacing the infrastructure - DWP employees are paid ALOT more than regular City of LA employees. Also it's time to contract out the pipe replacements so the job can get done under budget and on-time!

[Fed Up]

It's good to know that the money from the rate payers is probably going for payroll, not a bit of it for infrastructure. And with water conservation in place, revenue will go down from that, so another reason for another rate hike to make up for that. Can't win. LA must be one of the most dysfunctional cities around.

[sethook]

Any chance the DWP could get their needed funds from lowering of the benefit/retirement packages of the fat cats at the top? Might be time for those folks to make a little sacrafice for the city.

[Melissa]

Have the engineers looked into seismic activity, techtonic plates shifting? Wouldn't that be appropriate? Have any earthquake organizations been contacted? How does a GEYSER signify weather changes? That is deep below the earth activity. We had a heatwave last year as well. WHY NOT PREPARE THE PUBLIC FOR THE SIMPLE POSSIBILITY OF PLATES SHIFTING, and BASIC EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS? Isn't this a good reminder to be prepared for emergencies?

[Melissa]

PS - The writer did an excellent job of covering this without speculating, as I am doing....speculating earthquake potential brewing. She should be commended for covering this in a way that raises important questions beyond the standard taxation scare.

[Peter Carlson]

Okay, I'm not usually a paranoid conspiracy theorist kind of fellow, but all these water main failures at the same time are striking me as a ploy for the DWP to raise their rates.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

[lwps]

Are water conservation efforts causing these blowouts? I know that water pressure is greatest at night. That is why leaks and floods often occur in old pipes in houses in the middle of the night. Could the extra pressure from people cutting back be the mystery? I am surprised this article doesn't mention it.

[Joanne]

Several years ago, we in San Francisco voted to raise our taxes to replace our water system. We still had a lot of clay pipes. Sometimes there just isn't any choice. Sorry, I know this is a bad time, but down the road, you will be glad you did this.

[Bruno]

$100 million a year is siphoned off DWP revenues by the city council. All to pay for non functioning welfare programs.

Instead of a rate increase, the transfer payment from the DWP to the city must end. The city council should float an infrastructure bond and pay for it out of the general fund, the same general fund that has been looting rate payers for years.

[Dianna]

DWP HAS HAD THE MONEY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS FOR YEARS! AS A TAXPAYER AND A RESIDENT OF LOS ANGELES I AM BEING BLED DRY. STOP ALREADY.

[Margarita Fox]

In a number of news reports a few of the "blow-outs" were from pipes nearly 100 years old. Like an old water hose, in my mind, the old pipes have developed weak spots. When one blows it reduces the pressure on the others -- when it is fixed it increases the pressure on the others -- its just a matter of finding out where the weak spots are. Just my humble opinion.