On Thursday (16th), around 2:30 in the morning, a major water pipe burst in the West Hollywood area of Los Angeles, causing a rush of water on the streets, severe flooding, and sinkholes. Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power stated that staff are currently investigating the cause of the pipe burst, with no repair timetable established yet.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Palm Ave and W Harratt St, involving a 36-inch riveted steel main water pipe beneath W Sunset Blvd that was laid in 1916. Road fractures and sinkholes occurred in the area around Holloway Dr and Palm Ave, with cars in nearby parking lots being submerged or soaked by the water.
During a briefing around 8:00 am on the same day, Anselmo Collins, the Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, stated that the main pipeline and two large water valves on the east and west sides have been shut off; by around 7:00 am, the water flow had been stopped. Over the previous four-plus hours, thousands of gallons of water flowed down the street towards Santa Monica Blvd, flooding into the garage of an apartment building.
Several residents living in nearby apartment buildings said they were startled around 4 am by the fire alarm in the building, thinking there was a fire, only to discover the streets were flooded, “It looked like a river.”
Collins said, “Typically, system pressure is highest during late-night hours when water usage is at its lowest because everyone is asleep, so the burst of the main water pipe occurred during this period.” He assured the public that residents’ water supply remains clean, safe, and uninterrupted.
David Hanson, the Acting General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, stated that an emergency command center had been established, coordinating with other agencies, and personnel were on site assisting with damage assessment and insurance work.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass arrived at the scene in the morning. During a press conference, she said, “Over the past few years, I have been developing an infrastructure plan, which was launched about two months ago. To establish this plan, we had to amend certain provisions of the city charter, which was passed by the City Council last time and will be voted on in November.”
“Previously, city infrastructure management was fragmented among 15 city council members; without a city-wide project, it would be difficult to repair those affecting the entire city – even involving infrastructure in both West Hollywood and Los Angeles cities,” Bass said.
The Los Angeles County Police have announced multiple road closures. Despite the water valves being shut off, mud and other debris still remain on the road surface. Bass and West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman urged citizens to be aware of traffic delays and road closures resulting from the incident and suggested taking alternative routes.
The road closures include:
• Eastbound segment of Sunset Blvd, from Larrabee St to Sherbourne Dr;
• Eastbound segment of Holloway Dr, from Sunset Blvd to Westmount Dr;
• Eastbound segment of Santa Monica Blvd, from San Vicente Blvd to Hancock Dr;
• North-south segments of Larrabee St, Palm Ave, and Hancock Dr between Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd are all closed.
Metro buses in the area have also been rerouted. The Metro company announced on its X platform that the 16 and 105 bus routes heading north and west will stop at the Pacific Design Center on San Vicente Blvd; while those heading east and south will detour via Robertson Blvd between Santa Monica and Melrose.