Newsom Orders Investigation Into LA Water Shortage Amid Fires

LOS ANGELES, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered an investigation into Los Angeles' public water infrastructure due to complications while firefighters battled destructive wildfires.

In a letter sent Friday addressed to LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella and LA Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones, Newsom announced he instructed state officials to conduct an independent investigation into the causes of lost water supply and water
pressure.

"The ongoing reports of the loss of water pressure to some local firehydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and the community," Newsom wrote in the letter. "We need answers to how that happened."

Hydrants in the area of the Palisades fire ran dry on Tuesday as high demand caused water pressure to drop. To make up for the complications, firefighters began using water from pools and pods to try to save homes.

The Los Angeles Times reported that a large reservoir in Pacific Palisades was out of use when the
fire broke out. The reservoir was closed for repairs to its cover leaving the 117 million gallon water storage complex empty, officials told the Times.

Former LADWP general manager Martin Adams told the times the reservoir would have extended water pressure in Pacific Palisades, but wouldn't have completely stopped the problem from happening.

“You still would have ended up with serious drops in pressure,” Adams told the Times. “Would Santa Ynez [Reservoir] have helped? Yes, to some extent. Would it have saved the day? I don’t think so.

In a statement, LADWP officials said that the reservoir's absence likely did have an effect on water pressure in the Palisades. It's unclear how long the reservoir has been out of service.

“Our primary focus is to provide water supply throughout the city,” a DWP spokesperson said, adding, “The system was never designed for a wildfire scenario that we are experiencing.”

Newsom requested that LADWP and LA County officials prepare a comprehensive review examining their local preparation and response procedures to ensure available water supply for emergencies. Officials were instructed to document any causes of the loss of water pressure and unavailability of water supplies.

The state will conduct an after-incident review to identify measures that local governments can implement to provide adequate resources in times of extreme emergency and future catastrophic events.