Outrage has grown after it was revealed that the Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was empty and offline during a destructive wildfire. The reservoir, vital for the city’s water supply, had not been operational for nearly a year. It holds 117 million gallons of water and could have significantly aided firefighters battling the flames that damaged thousands of homes in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Malibu.
Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) explained that the reservoir was offline due to a tear in its cover. Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed deep concern and called for an independent investigation into the DWP. He emphasized the need for answers regarding the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the lack of water from the Santa Ynez Reservoir, stating that it is essential to ensure all resources are available to combat such catastrophic fires in the future.
In his letter to DWP, Newsom highlighted the strain on public infrastructure caused by the wildfires and the unfortunate loss of water supplies from fire hydrants that likely hindered firefighting efforts and endangered homes. He has directed state officials to prepare a report examining the causes of the water supply loss and measures local governments could take to improve emergency water availability.
Former DWP General Manager Martin Adams acknowledged that while the Santa Ynez Reservoir could have provided some relief, it may not have been a total solution. DWP’s current Chief Executive Janisse Quiñones confirmed that the system had trouble maintaining water pressure due to the unprecedented demand and that the offline reservoir contributed to this issue. The Santa Ynez Reservoir is part of a larger network of DWP reservoirs, which overall can store more than 91 billion gallons of water.
Many frustrated residents have blamed the low water pressure for the destruction of more than 5,300 buildings. Civic leaders have pointed to this incident as evidence of poor infrastructure maintenance. The DWP union also condemned the situation, stating that the prolonged emptiness of the reservoir for what was labeled minor repairs was unacceptable.
Janisse Quiñones, appointed as DWP Chief Executive in April 2024 with a yearly salary of $750,000, has been criticized for her oversight of fire hydrant maintenance, particularly in light of a situation that resulted in severe property losses. Overall, the empty reservoir and management issues have become a focal point of frustration for the public amid the disaster.
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