UCLA Flooding

The Los Angeles Times called it a “geyser of neglect”. The burst water main on Sunset Boulevard that flooded the UCLA campus and Pauley Pavilion caused the loss of more than 20 million gallons of water. People in the Eastern Sierra turned a critical eye on the Department of Water and Power for allowing infrastructure to create such waste in the third dry year.

Photo by DWP

Photo by DWP

DWP scrambled to find the valve to shut off the geyser of water. It took awhile. According to the LA Times, the water lost from the break of the 90-year-old water main was enough to serve 155,000 people for a day. The Times also said more than a quarter of the City’s water pipes are more than 100 years old and that the DWP’s replacement rate is 315 years. The political heat is on in LA.

The break took place Tuesday and DWP was quoted as saying the rupture was not completely shut off by Wednesday. Reports indicated the water was finally shut off Thursday morning. Although DWP’s website says it was shut off Tuesday. At UCLA the damage was severe to sports facilities, parking garages and more of the campus.

DWP was also quoted as saying that no customers were without water Wednesday and water quality was not adversely impacted due to the break. The extensive repair and replacement work is underway by DWP. The utility is also offering claim forms for those who believe they were damaged.

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