LADWP repeatedly missing critical water line replacement targets, 7 On Your Side Investigation reveals

Months after a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power trunk line ruptured in West Hollywood, residents whose homes were damaged by the flooding are calling for faster infrastructure upgrades as records show the utility has repeatedly fallen short of its trunk line replacement goals.

The July 16 rupture sent water rushing through streets and into nearby properties, causing extensive damage. Residents Katie Morrison and Louie Anchondo said the flood left lasting impacts on their condominium complex.

“It is tough to see, yeah. I don't like coming in here. It really is depressing,” Morrison said while showing the damage inside her home.

Morrison said many of her belongings could not be saved.

“This is my refrigerator, dishwasher and stove, which are all in the middle of the room because they have to be trashed,” she said.

When asked whether any of the damaged items could be salvaged, Morrison responded, “None of it can be savaged.”

Morrison said she lost nearly everything when the trunk line burst, unleashing a destructive flood of water. Her condo is located on the first floor of a building downhill from where the pipe failed.

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Anchondo, who serves on the homeowners association board with Morrison, said floodwaters surged through the property.

The damage extended throughout the complex, including the entrance, underground garage and hallways.

“What's stunning is this looks like damage you see because of storm surge from a hurricane,” Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter Kevin Ozebek told Anchondo during a tour of the property.

“And it basically was, it was water, it was storm surge. This was never meant to be a swimming pool or a wave pool,” Anchondo replied.

According to LADWP, the trunk line that ruptured was 110 years old. The utility said a “high priority” project to replace the pipe was in the design phase, but construction was not scheduled to begin until 2031.

“It could have been prevented. It's not a natural disaster. LADWP has taken responsibility, but it could've been prevented, and that's so disappointing,” Morrison said.

RELATED: West Hollywood pipe break spotlights LADWP's lagging pipe‑replacement pace

Records obtained by 7 On Your Side show LADWP has failed to meet its planned trunk line replacement targets during each of the past three fiscal years. In May, as fiscal year 2026 was nearing completion, the utility planned to replace 12,128 feet of trunk line but ultimately installed only 3,466 feet.

Asked whether the trunk line replacement program was significantly behind schedule, Jonathan Leung, LADWP’s Assistant General Manager for the Water System, acknowledged the utility is working to improve its pace.

“Yeah, we want to catch up,” Leung said.

Leung said two contracts for trunk line replacement projects were canceled because of safety concerns involving a contractor, significantly slowing the replacement program. He also said LADWP recently completed hiring a fourth staff team dedicated to trunk line repairs, though those employees will take years to train.

When asked whether the utility’s replacement goals are sufficient to modernize aging infrastructure, Leung said the challenge is complex.

“So that is a very complex challenge, Kevin, and that's where I think we will be working with kind of all the stakeholders, our labor partners, our board members, members of the public, to figure out ways we can really accelerate this,” Leung said.

Residents affected by the flood said they hope the utility speeds up its work.

“There's my beautiful new rug all wet and thrown outside. Moldy now,” Morrison said while surveying damage at her home.

“I hope they pick up their speed and fix the lines,” she added.

LADWP operates approximately 547 miles of trunk lines. About 100 miles of that system is more than 100 years old, meaning roughly 18% of the utility’s trunk lines are at least a century old.

The utility said it hopes within the next few years to begin replacing about 3.5 miles of trunk line annually. LADWP also plans to hire an additional trunk line replacement crew in 2028, though officials say it takes years to train new staff members.