flooding in West Hollywood<\/a> on Wednesday. AIR7 footage showed the rupture clearly from above, underscoring concerns about the condition of the city’s underground system.<\/p>\nAccording to LADWP’s 2025-2026 Water Infrastructure Plan Report, the utility replaced 11,500 feet of pipe with earthquake-resilient pipe during the 2024-25 fiscal year. But that is short of its goal for that same period which was replacing 17,600 feet.<\/p>\n
The work is critical because 6% of LADWP’s distribution mainline pipes are classified as high priority for replacement. The utility told Eyewitness News it is on track this year to replace 246,047 feet of pipe.<\/p>\n
But experts, including USC Viterbi School of Engineering Professor Lucio Soibelman, say the pace still isn’t enough.<\/p>\n
Soibelman said LADWP has a strong replacement program that is reducing leak rates, but the department needs more funding to accelerate the work.<\/p>\n
“They know what they are doing. I don’t think they have enough budget to solve the problem,” he said.<\/p>\n
Twelve years ago, Eyewitness News covered another major pipe burst just a half-mile down Sunset Boulevard. When asked whether the line involved in Wednesday’s break had a history of failures, LADWP did not directly answer. Instead, the utility sent a statement touting its leak rate, which it said is 36% below the national average.<\/p>\n
7 On Your Side Investigates will continue pressing for answers.<\/p>\n
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