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10h ago

LADWP Plans Nine-Month Shutdown of Santa Ynez Reservoir to Replace Damaged Cover

The utility frames the proactive cover replacement as necessary for regulatory compliance.

Pacific Palisades, CA - July 09: A view of the Santa Ynez Reservoir, located on Palisades Drive and adjacent to the Pacific Highlands development within the Topanga State Park, was offline and drained for repairs due to a torn floating cover when the Palisades Fire broke out in January 2025. The incident sparked concerns about water availability during emergencies. The reservoir provides supplementary water storage for the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood areas and its floating cover is crucial for maintaining drinking water quality and security. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The reservoir has been in service since June 25, 2025, and LADWP says it will remain online until the new cover, contractors, and contingency measures are in place.
  • Work could begin around the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire, with the basin drained and offline for roughly nine months.
  • LADWP’s contingency plan calls for a temporary six-mile, 10-inch high-pressure hose from Topanga tanks to supply water to the Palisades for firefighting.
  • Residents and Councilmember Traci Park object to the timing and push for a permanent concrete cover, which officials acknowledge would take years.
  • During the January 2025 fire the reservoir was offline and some hydrants ran dry, prompting lawsuits and a state inquiry, and an ABC7-cited report found the system would have been quickly overwhelmed even if full.