West Hollywood 110-Year-Old Pipe Bursts as LADWP Misses 17,600-Foot Replacement Goal
Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Jul 17
West Hollywood 110-Year-Old Pipe Bursts as LADWP Misses 17,600-Foot Replacement Goal
2 articles · Updated · KABC-TV · Jul 17
Summary
A 110-year-old water pipe ruptured in West Hollywood on Wednesday, sending floodwater across the area and renewing scrutiny of Los Angeles' aging underground system.
LADWP's 2025-26 infrastructure report shows it replaced 11,500 feet of pipe in fiscal 2024-25, well below its 17,600-foot target for earthquake-resilient upgrades.
The utility says 6% of its distribution mainline pipes are high priority for replacement and that it is on track to replace 246,047 feet this year.
USC engineering professor Lucio Soibelman said LADWP's program is reducing leaks but lacks enough funding to speed replacements to a level that would better address the risk.
The break echoes another major burst covered 12 years ago just a half-mile down Sunset Boulevard, while LADWP declined to say whether this line had failed before.