LADWP: Santa Ynez Reservoir Operational and Undergrounding Underway
By Laurel Busby
News & Information Editor
At a virtual Town Hall with Councilwoman Traci Park on July 2, officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power shared updates about the Santa Ynez Reservoir and other power and water issues, such as undergrounding plans for Pacific Palisades.
The reservoir, which was empty with a damaged cover during the Palisades Fire, has been repaired, and it became operational on June 25 for drinking water, fire hydrant access, and fire-fighting helicopters, according to LADWP officials.
The next step will be replacing the repaired floating cover with a new one, which will be installed in about two years, according to Anselmo Collins, LADWP’s senior assistant general manager of the water system.
“That's the short-term solution—to have a cover that has not gone through all the strains and stresses that this one has,” Collins said.
A long-term plan for the reservoir is also being arranged, which, according to Collins, might entail one of the following options: 1) a fixed cover made of aluminum or concrete slab; 2) the replacement of the reservoir with a tank; 3) the addition of a tank next to the reservoir; 4) construction of a treatment plant adjacent to the reservoir.
The choice is expected be made by early 2026, and installation could take 8 to 10 years, he said.
The state of water pipes throughout Pacific Palisades is also being addressed during the rebuilding process, Collins said. Currently, the town has 95 miles of water pipes, including 13 miles of aging pipes that are up to 90 years old as well as other pipes that have a history of leaks. Some of these lines run through areas known for land movement, so pipes that flex are planned. Three crews have been assigned to this work.
One project will replace a 90-year-old cast-iron pipe in Potrero Canyon with earthquake-resistant ductile iron pipe, Collins said. Construction begins this month and is estimated to take 12 months.
Another project is the rehabilitation of the pressure regulator station at the corner of Via de la Paz and Sunset, Collins said. During this construction, Sunset will remain open, but travel north on Via de la Paz will be closed for six months.
LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager David Hanson discussed the undergrounding of electrical lines, which will take place in two main phases. First, above-ground power lines must be rebuilt to permanent standards. Thus far, power has been restored to all standing buildings, and all lines are scheduled to be completed by Sept. 1.
Undergrounding of power lines has already begun along Sunset and will provide an upgraded power system using 35kV/12kV lines, Hanson said. This improvement means a proposed distribution station will no longer be needed on LADWP land next to Marquez Elementary School.
Distribution Station 29 at Via and Sunset instead will expand capacity to 90MW, which is three times the current capacity. This change will require that temporary equipment be installed during construction to ensure power is not interrupted.
LADWP plans to underground 100 percent of the power lines in Pacific Palisades, Hanson said. Residents, who are replacing or repairing their homes, are urged to buy combo panels for their electrical wiring, which can receive attachments from both overhead and underground wires.
“The panels cost the same as an overhead or an underground panel; it's just a combo panel,” Hanson said. “Then your panel doesn't see a change. We would just be getting rid of the overhead feed, and then we would be connecting your underground feed.”
One of these above-ground transformers will need to be installed for about every eight homes.
The system will also require one above-ground pad-mounted transformer for about every eight homes, Hanson said.
“We know that people are going to be very concerned about where we place these things,” Hanson said. “That's why we're talking about taking another look at our design standards. Maybe it is time for us to start building in the public right of way. We will be very transparent with the community about where the actual above-ground equipment has to go.”
Telecommunications and fiber optic cabling will ideally be placed underground too, Hanson said. However, private telecommunications companies lease space on poles or in underground conduits from LADWP, and these companies make decisions separately from the public utility.
“Right now, everyone is leaning towards coming underground with us, and we're super excited about that,” he said. “For us to be able to remove those poll lines completely, I think that's going to make the community much happier.”
LADWP officials noted that concerned customers can get free water testing by calling: (213) 367-3182.
If residents have further questions, they can visit the Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center at 3931 South Topanga Canyon Blvd. Hours: Mon.-Fri 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. More information is also available at ladwp.com/palisades or by email: rebuildpalisades@ladwp.com.
