Drinking water restrictions in California put in place during the Palisades wildfires are set to be lifted.
Why It Matters
Wildfires in Los Angeles in January burned more than 47,900 acres, destroyed more than 16,250 homes and businesses, and killed 29 people. The most significant incidents included the Palisades Fire, which consumed nearly 24,000 acres in Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu.
The wildfires also saw local water systems contaminated with toxins, including benzene and other volatile organic compounds. In response, the California Department of Water and Power issued a “Do Not Drink” notice for specific areas, cautioning residents against using tap water for drinking or cooking until further notice due to potential contamination.
Exposure to contaminants like benzene can have serious health consequences, including an increased risk of cancer and other long-term illnesses. Unlike bacteria, these toxins cannot be removed by boiling or filtering, making the situation especially dangerous for affected communities. Ensuring access to clean drinking water is essential for public health.
Stock image of a domestic dripping water faucet on August 25, 2022. Stock image of a domestic dripping water faucet on August 25, 2022. AP
What To Know
The restrictions are set to be lifted for residents in the burn zone in Los Angeles County on Friday.
Palisades residents have been under a “Do Not Drink” notice since January 10, requiring them to rely on bottled water for drinking and cooking. The order impacted most of the Pacific Palisades’ 90272 ZIP code, as well as Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) customers just north of San Vicente Boulevard.
The advisory was issued after the Palisades Fire damaged the area’s water distribution infrastructure, causing a loss of pressure as firefighters worked to control the blaze. Since then, LADWP has been flushing the system and conducting tests for contaminants, including benzene and other toxic chemicals that may have entered the water supply.
But authorities say water quality has now been safely restored, so the restrictions can now be lifted.
In order to aid with the lifting of restrictions, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has advised residents to flush their plumbing systems before resuming regular water use to ensure that clean water flows through homes and businesses.
Residents are advised to take several steps, including removing aerators and screens from faucets, setting water-softening devices to bypass mode, and flushing both outside and indoor plumbing. This involves running cold water faucets at full flow for at least 10 minutes until the water is clear, flushing toilets and urinals, and draining hot water tanks to remove any accumulated sediment. Additional steps include running empty dishwasher and washing machine cycles, discarding ice from ice makers, and restoring any removed filters. Each property will receive on-site instructions to assist with the process.
To ease the burden on residents, the DWP will provide a $50 credit to customer accounts to offset the cost of flushing their systems.
In addition to water system updates, DWP General Manager Janisse Quiñones highlighted the progress made in restoring power infrastructure. The department has replaced 800 power poles and 50,000 feet of cable, restoring electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. However, approximately 143 customers remain without power due to the difficulty of accessing their locations.
In the Palisades, water and power have been reinstated in under 60 days. In comparison, recovery efforts from the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise took over a year to restore clean drinking water.
In an announcement on Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted that authorities are “leading the fastest recovery effort in modern California history.”
What People Are Saying
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said: “In the two months since the devastating fires broke out, we’ve made historic progress in rebuilding. Water and power have been restored, and last week, we completed Phase 1 of the debris removal process—both months ahead of expectations. We’re leading the fastest recovery effort in modern California history, and we won’t stop until this community is made whole.”
What Happens Next
After the notice is lifted on Friday, LADWP crews will continue testing water.
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