Residents in the Porter Ranch and Granada Hills neighborhoods of Los Angeles County are being asked to conserve water, if they have any, as crews work to repair a water system break on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews say a valve that feeds a large water tank above Porter Ranch broke on Tuesday as crews were making repairs. About 9,200 customers may or may not have water as a result of the break.
A temporary water pump was set up overnight by LADWP crews to help compensate for the water loss, but it was not enough for all residents.
KTLA’s Eric Spillman was at the home of one Porter Ranch man who woke up at 6 a.m. to find his house was out of water
“I woke up this morning and I want to wash my face, take a shower. Unfortunately, there’s no water at all,” said Manny Kazanjian. Manny escorted Eric inside his home, where none of the faucets were working.
Meanwhile, LADWP workers began handing out drinking water to residents in need on Wednesday, but many arrived to find long lines of cars at the distribution centers.
One motorist who decided to just go to bed early last night as a way to conserve water found he was also out when he woke up.
“I just really didn’t use anything last night from the moment we got that message,” he said while waiting for water at Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park. “But I appreciate what these guys are doing, it’s really nice.”
In addition to the Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park location, water is being distributed at O’Melveny Park in Granada Hills and the intersection of Tampa Avenue and Senson Boulevard.
The water conservation boundary stretches from Rinaldi Avenue to the south, Balboa Boulevard to the east, De Soto Avenue to the west and the foothills and hills to the north.
All of this comes as Southern California watches temperatures climb amid a heat wave. The afternoon high in Porter Ranch on Wednesday was expected to be in the mid-90s. Thursday’s forecast high is even warmer, likely reaching near triple digits.
Making matters worse, a spokesperson for LADWP says it could take until Friday to fix the valve.
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