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Crews Replace Ruptured Century-Old Sunset Water Trunk

The repair now requires careful pressure testing, chlorination and water-quality sampling before the line returns to service.

Overview

  • A 36-inch trunk line that ruptured in West Hollywood released about 17 million gallons of water and created a large sinkhole when it failed early Thursday, flooding streets, garages and damaging scores of vehicles.
  • Crews cut out a roughly 25-foot damaged section and welded in a new steel segment, and workers have refilled the pipe to begin repressurization while conducting leak checks and regulatory testing.
  • Sunset Boulevard between Sherbourne Drive and San Vicente Boulevard remains closed and some residents and businesses are displaced as trench backfill, repaving and final inspections have not been completed.
  • The neighborhood is being served by a temporary 8-inch line so customers may see low pressure and officials are urging water conservation while promising tap water will be certified safe after sampling and chlorination.
  • Multiple smaller breaks across Los Angeles this weekend — including a private-property leak in the Venice Canals and a 6-inch main that affected roughly 60–70 customers — have drawn renewed attention to the city’s aging pipeline network and long multi-year replacement plans.