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Urgent water conservation requested in Los Angeles, Orange Counties through July 2 for major regional pipeline repairs

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 18, 2008 at 6:18 am

An urgent request for heightened water conservation in Los Angeles and Orange counties over the next two weeks is being made by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California as it begins critical repairs to a major regional water pipeline that serves as many as 12 million people.

“In order to prevent what could be a severe break in our Sepulveda Feeder pipeline, we will be working 24-hours a day to install new pipe sections and are asking residents of Los Angeles and Orange counties for heightened conservation over the next two weeks so that no one has to go without running water in their homes and businesses,” said Metropolitan Assistant General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Debra Man.

The pipeline stretches from Granada Hills in the San Fernando Valley south to Palos Verdes, and is a major source of imported water to Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Torrance, Fullerton, Compton, Santa Ana, Anaheim, and cities served by the Central Basin Municipal Water District, West Basin Municipal Water District, and Municipal Water District of Orange County.

“We are confident that with heightened water conservation in Los Angeles and Orange counties, and by moving water further west from our treatment plants in La Verne and Yorba Linda, that we’ll be able to prevent anyone from losing water service at their home or business,” Man said.

“We are asking that people be especially cautious with their water use beginning June 21 through July 2, when we expect to have the pipeline back in service,” Man said. “Since discovering four significantly weakened sections in the pipeline, we have moved quickly to prepare for this major repair project. We needed to act as soon as possible to prevent a pipeline emergency, and also to get the work done before the hotter temperatures of summer and early fall.”

Residents are asked to postpone washing vehicles (except at commercial car washes using recycled water); irrigate lawns and landscaping only on alternate days; take shorter showers, and delay using dishwashers and clothes washers until there is a full load. Additional water-conservation information and tips can be found at bewaterwise.com.

The Sepulveda Feeder is a 45-mile-long underground line of 96-inch (8-feet) diameter pipe—37 miles of reinforced concrete and 8 miles of welded steel—that runs from Metropolitan’s Joseph Jensen Water Treatment Plant in Granada Hills south to Metropolitan’s Palos Verdes Reservoir, with numerous connections to other Metropolitan and retail-agency pipelines along the way.

Reinforced concrete pipe has pre-stressed wire embedded in the concrete to provide strength, but the wire occasionally deteriorates and causes a weak spot that internal pressure can burst through. Tests of the pipeline in March 2008 found four spots of immediate concern: two under Sepulveda Boulevard outside the main entrance to Los Angeles National Cemetery; one under Slauson Avenue at Hannum Avenue in Culver City; and one under 64th Street near Le Doux Road in Ladera Heights.

Replacement pipe sections of welded steel were fabricated at Metropolitan’s machine shop in La Verne, and are being brought to the work sites at Westwood and Ladera Heights. A 12-mile section of the pipeline will be blocked off, the line drained, and around-the-clock work will begin June 21. Pieces of steel pipeline will be moved into the pipeline at Westwood and Ladera Heights and welded into place; carbon fiber lining will be installed in the Culver City pipe section to strengthen it. Work is expected to be completed by July 2, when the line is re-filled and samples are tested.

Metropolitan employees have notified residents, businesses, municipal and other government officials to help mitigate the impacts of the repair project. Nevertheless, one lane of southbound Sepulveda Boulevard traffic will be closed—one will remain open—between Montana and Constitution avenues, adjoining the National Cemetery in Westwood. In addition, on the west side of the freeway, Church Lane between Burnham and Waterford streets will be closed.

The divided, northbound lanes of Hannum Avenue traffic, between Slauson and Jefferson, will be closed and traffic rerouted; the southbound lanes will remain open. In addition, a block of 64th Street at Le Doux Road will be closed to through traffic.

“We certainly appreciate the understanding and cooperation of residents and businesses in these communities and their increased water-conservation efforts over the next two weeks as we undertake this urgently needed project,” Man said.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.