West Hollywood water major break exposes LA’s getting old infrastructure

Hundreds of miles of century-old pipes in determined want for restore run underneath the streets of Los Angeles, making the specter of one other catastrophic water major burst a daunting actuality.

The explosion underneath Sundown Boulevard this week has grow to be the most recent warning that Los Angeles’ getting old infrastructure is reaching a breaking level.

The catastrophe despatched 17 tens of millions of gallons dashing via the streets of West Hollywood — destroying properties, vehicles and companies.

Metropolis leaders warning comparable failures will proceed until a long time of deferred upkeep occurs.

“For 50 years we’ve successfully been kicking the can down the street on upkeep, deferring and deferring till every part is breaking,” Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky advised The California Submit.

LA has approximated 7,400 miles of pipes working underneath its streets. Roughly 30% of these pipes are greater than 80 years previous, based on the Los Angeles Division of Water and Energy.

Yaroslavsky helps oversee Los Angeles’ roughly $15 billion annual price range as chair of the Metropolis Council’s Funds and Finance Committee, and has repeatedly warned town should put money into its getting old infrastructure earlier than small issues grow to be pricey disasters.

The Sundown Boulevard rupture this week concerned a 36-inch riveted metal trunk line put in in 1916 — the identical yr Woodrow Wilson was President of the USA.

“Our infrastructure simply isn’t constructed for what we’re going through, and it’s previous,” Yaroslavsky added. 

LADWP replaces about 45 miles of getting old pipeline annually, however with 1000’s of miles nonetheless in service, officers acknowledge it would take a long time to modernize the whole system.

LADWP earmarked $803.8 million in its 2026-27 price range to modernize its getting old water system, together with $590.1 million to interchange deteriorating water mains and $213.7 million for repairs and upkeep. LADWP responds to 3 or 4 water major breaks per day, based on its web site.

Town additionally faces an estimated $4 billion backlog to restore crumbling streets and sidewalks, together with one other $2 billion wanted to modernize its getting old sewer community after a long time of deferred upkeep.

“The DWP water major break is only one instance of a a lot bigger infrastructure downside that we have now to handle. It’s principally Band-Aids proper now as an alternative of a complete, proactive repair,” Yaroslavsky mentioned.

“We’ve acquired tens of billions of {dollars} in deferred upkeep throughout streets, sidewalks, parks, sewers and storm drains, all whereas we’re spending enormous sums on settlements after failures happen.”

Yaroslavsky argues Los Angeles’ present budgeting course of makes long-term fixes troublesome. 

That’s why Metropolis Corridor is asking voters to approve a sweeping Constitution modification in November that supporters say would overhaul how Los Angeles plans and pays for main infrastructure initiatives.

Mayor Karen Bass has championed the hassle, arguing town should finish its “advert hoc” method to sustaining roads, pipes and different public belongings.

The measure would require Los Angeles to undertake a long-term capital infrastructure plan, transfer to a two-year price range cycle, streamline elements of Public Works and modernize contracting guidelines that supporters say have slowed initiatives and pushed up prices.

The present failing infrastructure is costing town in additional methods than one.

The Los Angeles Metropolis Council not too long ago accredited a $20 million settlement after a 13-year-old Boyle Heights child misplaced a part of his leg when he was struck by a motorbike whereas crossing in a marked crosswalk. 

The lawsuit argued Los Angeles failed to handle longstanding security hazards on the intersection. After the crash, town put in a pedestrian-activated visitors sign.

Town has paid greater than $194 million to settle 1000’s of claims involving harmful avenue situations within the final six years, based on the Metropolis Controller’s legal responsibility claims dashboard.

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An getting old water major beneath Sundown Boulevard burst in 2014, unleashing as much as 10 million gallons of water throughout UCLA, flooding Pauley Pavilion, parking garages and close by buildings, damaging greater than 100 automobiles and inflicting over $13 million in losses.

Simply two days later, one other getting old water major burst in Eagle Rock whereas crews had been nonetheless cleansing up the UCLA flood, underscoring the rising pressure on Los Angeles’ getting old water system. One other water major ruptured at Sundown Boulevard and Gower Road, flooding Hollywood streets in November 2025.

“We’d like an actual capital infrastructure plan that really will get funded, contracting reform so we’re not overpaying, and long-term funding that permits us to repair the locations most in danger earlier than they fail,” Yaroslavsky added.

“This isn’t rocket science. It’s developing with a plan, placing cash apart yearly and being disciplined about it. That’s the way you restore individuals’s religion in authorities, when individuals expertise a metropolis that really works.”