Los Angeles water utility lacks safety procedure that may have kept hydrants pumping
The recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County have brought to light a critical issue within the city’s municipal utility department – the lack of a common safety procedure that may have prevented water shortages at fire hydrants during intentional power shutoffs. While President Biden has acknowledged the problem and attributed it to the shutdown of power to pumps that fuel the hydrants, Republicans, including President-elect Trump, have pointed fingers at Democratic officials for the water shortage.
Biden explained that the utilities had to shut off power to prevent further fires from sparking, but in doing so, they inadvertently cut off the ability to pump water to the hydrants. He assured that generators were being deployed to restore power to the pumps and ensure an adequate water supply for firefighting efforts. However, a report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the only major utility company in California without an intentional shut-off protocol, which outlines plans for proactively shutting down electricity lines during dangerous windstorms to limit the impact on public safety.
California Water Service, a private utility provider in the state, emphasized the importance of being prepared for power shutoffs and detailed their extensive measures to ensure water service continuity during such events. Michael Wara, a climate and energy policy expert at Stanford University, echoed the sentiment that there should be no trade-off between reliability and safety in these situations.
Edward Ring, from the California Policy Center, suggested undergrounding power lines or implementing parallel systems for vital services like fire hydrant pumps to avoid power disruptions during intentional shutoffs. While LADWP claimed to have a different emergency protocol in place to mitigate fire risks, former Los Angeles firefighter John Knox expressed surprise at the dry hydrants, emphasizing the need for accountability from city leaders.
The issue of water shortages at fire hydrants during intentional power shutoffs underscores the importance of proactive planning and preparedness in disaster situations. As wildfires continue to ravage California, it is crucial for utility companies to implement robust safety procedures to ensure the protection and well-being of residents and firefighters.
