Additional Leaks, Tears Detected in Santa Ynez Reservoir Floating Cover, Delaying Operations

By SARAH SHMERLING and LILY TINOCO

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power reported additional tears and leaks were detected in the floating cover at Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Highlands, according to a statement on April 23, which required it to be re-drained and further repairs completed.

Speaking during the Tuesday evening, April 8, virtual town hall, hosted by Mayor Karen Bass, LADWP Manager for Repair and Construction Russell Woll reported that repair work had been completed at the reservoir and that the department had begun to refill it.

The week of April 14, LADWP Water Operations staff identified additional small tears and leaks in the floating cover, which is in place to ensure the water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir meets state and federal water quality standards. In order to make repairs safely, the reservoir had to be re-drained—after having been refilled to approximately 25% of capacity.

Layfield Group—the contractor hired to repair a previous tear in the floating cover—completed testing of its repairs on Wednesday, March 26. LADWP began refilling the reservoir on Monday, March 31, at the rate of one to two feet per day. It was expected to be refilled and returned to service by Thursday, May 1.

Staff then noticed water ponding on top of the cover, indicative of a possible leak, and divers were dispatched to investigate the condition of the cover. Additional tears and “pin-sized” leaks were detected that must be repaired before the reservoir can be filled.

Draining the reservoir and making the additional repairs to the reservoir cover is expected to take approximately three to four more weeks, according to LADWP. Based on this estimate, LADWP is expected to resume refilling the reservoir in May and return it to service in “mid- to late-June.”

“The fact that the initial repairs and inspection by the contractor did not detect the small tears and pinholes on the floating cover is troubling, especially since LADWP required the contractor to fully test the repairs prior to refilling the reservoir,” Senior Assistant General Manager – Water System Anselmo Collins said in a statement. “I want to assure our customers that water supply to the Palisades remains safe and strong. We also have additional water available to support firefighting needs in nearby Encino Reservoir, and the tanks serving the Palisades are full and operational.”

On April 8, Woll reported that “all of the 1,053” fire hydrants in the Palisades are operating with “no reported issues.”

Located along Palisades Drive in the Highlands, the 117 million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir was empty while awaiting required repair work when the Palisades fire began on January 7.

“LADWP was required to take the Santa Ynez Reservoir out of service to meet safe drinking water regulations,” LADWP reported on January 11. “To commission the support and resources to implement repairs to Santa Ynez, LADWP is subject to the city charter’s competitive bidding process, which requires time.”