Why Didn’t L.A. Firefighters Have Access to More Water? Newsom Calls For Investigation – TIME

A Large Reservoir in Pacific Palisades Out of Commission During Wildfire

A large reservoir in Pacific Palisades that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system was out of commission when a ferocious wildfire destroyed thousands of homes and other structures nearby, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Reservoir Closure and Water Supply Issues

The Santa Ynez Reservoir, with a capacity of 117 million gallons, had been closed since February for repairs to its cover, leaving it empty for nearly a year. This revelation raises questions about why firefighters ran out of water while battling the blaze, which ignited during high winds. Numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leading to low water pressure for the crews.

Independent Investigation Ordered

As a response to the loss of water pressure and the empty reservoir, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered an independent investigation of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP). The Governor finds the situation “deeply troubling” and seeks answers from DWP and L.A. County Public Works.

Impact of the Reservoir on Firefighting Efforts

DWP officials have stated that demand for water during the unprecedented fire made it impossible to maintain pressure to hydrants at high elevations. Former DWP general manager Martin Adams believes that if the reservoir had been operable, it would have provided some relief, but would not have been a complete solution. The absence of the reservoir likely contributed to diminished pressure and dry hydrants in upper regions of the Palisades.

Reservoir Repairs and Contamination Concerns

The Santa Ynez Reservoir was closed in February due to a tear in the floating cover, which allowed debris and other objects to enter the water supply. DWP drained the reservoir to avoid contamination and comply with water regulations. The repairs were scheduled to be completed in February, but the status is unclear. The delay in restoring the reservoir has been criticized by the DWP’s employee union leader.

Water System Design and Challenges

The DWP’s water system is designed with redundancies and multiple sources of water. However, urban water systems like DWP’s were not designed to fight wildfires that overtake whole neighborhoods. The water pressure in the upper Palisades is sustained with three storage tanks, but all three tanks went dry during the fire. The intensity of the fire disrupted the contingencies in place.

Role of Santa Ynez Reservoir

If the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been in normal use with a fully repaired cover, it would have provided some additional water supply. However, researchers believe that even with the reservoir, the fire’s intensity would have overwhelmed the system eventually. The reservoir’s capacity is 117 million gallons, and it is one of several sources of water in the area.

Governor’s Response and Public Outrage

The lack of water pressure has been pointed out as a factor contributing to the destruction of homes and buildings in the area. Civic leaders and residents have expressed anger and frustration over the poor infrastructure upkeep. The DWP union chief welcomes the governor’s probe and hopes for accountability.

Conclusion

The Santa Ynez Reservoir’s closure and the subsequent water supply issues during the wildfire in Pacific Palisades have raised concerns about the resilience of the Los Angeles water system. The incident highlights the need for further investigation and improvements to ensure the system’s ability to support firefighting efforts during emergencies.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the issues related to the availability of water for firefighting during a wildfire, which is connected to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). It also highlights the impact of the wildfire on homes and buildings, which is connected to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Additionally, the article mentions the role of extreme winds and the seasonal decline in water use, which are connected to SDG 13 (Climate Action).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
• SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Based on the article’s content, the targets mentioned above can be identified. The article highlights the need to ensure sustainable water supply and address water scarcity during firefighting, which aligns with SDG 6.4. It also emphasizes the impact of the wildfire on homes and buildings, indicating the need to reduce the number of people affected and economic losses caused by water-related disasters, aligning with SDG 11.5. Furthermore, the article mentions the role of extreme winds and the need to strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards, which aligns with SDG 13.1.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 6.4: Water-use efficiency across sectors
• Indicator for SDG 11.5: Number of deaths, number of people affected, and economic losses caused by water-related disasters
• Indicator for SDG 13.1: Resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but the identified targets can be measured using indicators such as water-use efficiency across sectors for SDG 6.4, the number of deaths, number of people affected, and economic losses caused by water-related disasters for SDG 11.5, and indicators related to resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards for SDG 13.1.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: latimes.com