Granada Hills Residents Struggle with Water Outages During Repairs

Water Service Disruption in Granada Hills and Porter Ranch

A recent valve failure at a pump station has led to a significant water service disruption for thousands of customers in Granada Hills and Porter Ranch. The incident occurred during a period of intense heat, compounding the challenges faced by residents in the affected areas.

The affected region is defined by Rinaldi Avenue on the south, Balboa Boulevard on the east, De Soto Avenue on the west, and the foothills and hills to the north. Approximately 9,200 Department of Water and Power (DWP) customers are impacted by this outage. The disruption began when a critical valve failed to open during repair work conducted on Tuesday at a pump station connected to a 10 million-gallon water tank serving the area.

As a result of the malfunction, the flow of water from the tank into the local pipes was halted. Immediate repair efforts were initiated, with DWP crews requesting assistance from a high-capacity pump and hose provider to resupply the 54-inch trunkline feeding the tank. Coordination with the Metropolitan Water District is ongoing to facilitate this process.

Residents in the affected area have experienced unreliable water service, with outages expected to persist until at least Friday. A boil-water notice has been issued, advising residents to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking. This notice applies to DWP customers located north of Rinaldi Street or the 118 Freeway, whichever is further north, and west of Balboa Boulevard.

To support affected residents, the DWP has set up water distribution sites across the area. These locations include:

• Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park, 20500 Sesnon Blvd., Northridge
• O’Melveny Park, 17300 Sesnon Blvd., Granada Hills
• The intersection of Tampa Avenue and Sesnon Boulevard on the Northridge-Porter Ranch border

In addition to these resources, Mayor Karen Bass encouraged residents to utilize cooling centers equipped with restrooms during the outage. These centers are available at various Recreation and Parks facilities, with details accessible at laparks.org/reccenter, as well as public libraries listed at lapl.org/branches.

Ongoing Repair Efforts and Safety Measures

Excavation work is currently underway to access the faulty valve, which is located 20 feet underground. This digging process is expected to take between 14 to 16 hours before actual repair work can begin. The DWP emphasized that customer and community safety remains their top priority as they work to restore service and resupply water.

LADWP is coordinating with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to develop a contingency plan for the area, including the deployment of water tankers during the repair process. LAFD and LAPD crews are also increasing their presence in the affected neighborhoods, focusing on high-risk fire areas and conducting proactive patrols.

The water service outage coincided with a severe heat wave, which is expected to peak on Thursday, with many valley areas experiencing temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. In response, Mayor Bass highlighted the city’s efforts to provide essential resources, including drinking water and showers, for those affected by the outage.

“Especially as we face rising temperatures, the LADWP and other City departments are mobilizing resources to ensure that Angelenos stay safe and hydrated,” Bass stated. The city continues to work closely with emergency services and community organizations to support residents during this challenging time.