WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. , Residents in West Hollywood are still grappling with the aftermath of last week’s water main break on Sunset Boulevard, which sent nearly 17 million gallons of water cascading down Palm Avenue.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has replaced the ruptured section of pipe, though crews continue testing and making repairs before the system can return to full operation.
“There’s a lot that they still have to test to make sure that the pipe is safe. We want it done right, not fast,” West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said.
Heilman told residents during a virtual meeting Sunday morning that city staff fielded questions about the break and the ongoing recovery.
Flooding from the rupture displaced residents and damaged property throughout the neighborhood, the mayor said.
“People still suffering a great deal of trauma if they’ve lost their cars and they’ve lost their place to live temporarily, but we’re working very closely with them to try to assist,” Heilman said.
Between 150 and 200 vehicles were damaged or destroyed in flooded garages, according to the mayor. Several homes also sustained water damage.
“There were seven units that suffered water intrusion. Four of them were pretty significant water intrusion. The other three was relatively minor or moderate intrusion,” Heilman said.
Two residential buildings remained without power Monday as repair work continued.
“They’re waiting to get electricians in there who can replace their electrical panels. Until that is done, the buildings remain without power,” Heilman said.
LADWP dispatched 200 personnel to assist with restoring water service and reopening streets. Workers are inspecting the transmission line for leaks and confirming the pipe can handle operational pressure.
“I know that LADWP has been out here working around the clock, and it’s amazing that they’ve already got the replacement pipe in there. They’re doing some testing and of course, during that process, they discover some pinhole leaks that they have to fix, but that’s a pretty normal process with a replacement pipe of this size,” Heilman said.
Crews expect to reopen Sunset Boulevard by Wednesday or Thursday.
Ensuring that water moving through the system is clean and safe for residents remains the top priority for officials.
Residents with property or vehicle damage can submit a claim through LADWP at ladwp.com/claims.