As the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power assesses the rupture of a 36-inch steel main buried beneath Sunset Boulevard early Thursday morning, which sent thousands of gallons of water down the streets of West Hollywood, the city has shut down major roads in a highly trafficked area of the Sunset Strip, while residents are being told to reduce water usage as they clear out wreckage from the flooding.
The rupture of the trunk line, which was installed 110 years ago, occurred around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, a rep from the LADWP told reporters, adding that water was shut off in the area by around 7:30 a.m. local time after the city’s Department of Public Works quickly deployed personnel to the scene. LADWP has confirmed that no water service interruptions are anticipated for residents or businesses, who are encouraged by LADWP and the Los Angeles mayor’s office to reduce usage and pressure.
Crews are removing about 195,000 gallons of water from the 0.7-mile isolated section of the large-diameter pipe and the surrounding area before the rupture can be secured and they can assess the extent of the damage. This involves shoring to make the area safe before excavation can begin.
The department said that water continues to flow in West Hollywood through an 8-inch pipe instead of the ruptured 36-inch pipe. Mayor Karen Bass, who was on the scene Thursday morning, relayed the message to WeHo residents later in the day.
