- đź“Ś A 110-year-old water main ruptured on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood on July 25, releasing an estimated 17 million gallons of water.
- đź“Ś LADWP crews have replaced the damaged 25-foot pipe section, but the street remains closed between Sherbourne Drive and San Vicente Boulevard with no confirmed reopening date.
- đź“Ś Officials initially targeted Wednesday or Thursday for reopening, but as of Sunday, no set date has been announced; repressurization and water quality testing are ongoing.
- đź“Ś Between 100 and 200 vehicles were damaged or destroyed, many declared total losses; two buildings remain without power; some businesses like Book Soup and Dialog Cafe are closed indefinitely.
- đź“Ś LADWP plans a comprehensive replacement of all water mains along Sunset Boulevard, but that project has been accelerated following the break, though a new timeline was not immediately provided.
Introduction
A massive water main break in West Hollywood has left a key stretch of Sunset Boulevard closed for days, disrupting commutes, damaging dozens of vehicles, and forcing businesses to shut down. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) says repairs are progressing, but officials have not set a firm date for reopening the road.
Repair Progress and Timeline Uncertainty
LADWP crews have worked around the clock since the early morning of July 25, when a 36-inch steel pipe—installed around 1916—burst near Holloway Drive. The rupture sent a torrent of water through the streets, pushing cars and flooding underground garages. By Friday, a replacement pipe section had arrived, and over the weekend welders installed the new 25-foot, 3-foot-diameter segment.
“With the replacement section in place, the pipe has been refilled and repressurization is underway,” LADWP said in a Sunday evening update. The utility emphasized that crews must still locate and seal any leaks, disinfect the pipe with chlorine, perform water-quality testing, and finally backfill the trench and repave the street to West Hollywood’s standards.
Earlier, officials had targeted a Wednesday or Thursday reopening, but as of Sunday no specific date had been confirmed. LADWP stated it is “committed to finishing the repairs as quickly and safely as possible.”
On Monday morning, West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman told FOX 11 that crews are making steady progress and the city is still hoping for a mid-week reopening. “We are still hoping that we can get the street reopened this week,” he said. However, he noted that potential glitches in the testing and cleaning process could alter the timeline.
The city has also collaborated with LADWP to provide vouchers for displaced individuals.
However, a new snag emerged: LADWP crews found a new leak while pressure testing the repaired water main. Anselmo Collins, chief operating officer of LADWP’s water system, said at Saturday’s press conference that welders finished installing the new section at 5:30 a.m. that day. Crews began pressure testing a few hours later. Officials now say an older section of pipe, one that wasn’t replaced, started leaking once that testing got underway. The line has to be sealed and tested again before the sinkhole can be filled and the road repaved.
At Saturday’s presser, someone asked Collins point blank whether Sunset Boulevard would reopen by Monday. He wouldn’t guarantee it. “We have several steps that we need to take that are required,” he said. “We think that we’ll have a better idea a little later, but for now, all I can tell you is that we’re working as quickly as possible, and I want to make sure also that we get the work done properly.” Collins said the new section also needs disinfecting with a chlorine solution before it goes back into service. That’s a standard step for any repaired drinking water main. It hadn’t started as of Saturday. It still hasn’t. Now, with the new leak, the line has to pass pressure testing all over again before disinfection can even begin.
There’s still no timeline for finishing repairs. Sunset Boulevard remains closed between Sherbourne Drive and San Vicente Boulevard. The City of West Hollywood’s own update, posted Sunday at 5:30 p.m., said crews are doing further excavation “to locate and seal any leaks, ensuring that all repairs meet the highest safety and regulatory standards.” The city pushed back its suspension of residential parking enforcement in the area to Wednesday, July 22 at 7 a.m.
Repairs “are anticipated to continue into this week,” Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials said. “We understand the ongoing difficulties and disruptions this has caused for residents and businesses across West Hollywood. LADWP is fully committed to advancing pipe repairs and restoring affected streets as quickly and safely as possible,” the utility wrote in a news release on Monday.
On Sunday, crews sealed leaks that were discovered during pressure testing and are now repressurizing the line. “As pressure builds, crews will again perform targeted leak checks to confirm every section of pipe, both new and existing, is stable and performing as expected,” the utility department said. Workers will then disinfect the repaired section with chlorine, test the water quality, then dechlorinate the water and discharge it into a storm drain. Only after that will crews be able to repair the street, DWP said.
LADWP crews have been working around the clock, but the repair process is extensive. With the trunk line now sealed, LADWP says crews will begin backfilling the sinkhole with roughly 30 truckloads of a so-called slurry mix. That will need to cure for hours and then another 24 hours to ensure it's stable. Only then can crews apply new asphalt before disinfecting the repaired pipe with chlorine and then flushing it clean.
Crews hope to reopen Sunset Boulevard by Wednesday or Thursday.
As of Monday evening, crews had resolved all issues identified during pressure testing and had completed testing on every section of the pipeline, according to the utility. In a news release, the DWP outlined the next steps. Once the site is prepared and materials are in place, crews will begin backfilling the excavation area. Approximately 300 cubic yards of concrete mix slurry will be placed into the trench, requiring about 30 truckloads. The slurry will be filled to roughly two feet below the surface and will cure for 12 hours. After required work in the shallow portion of the trench is finished, the slurry will cure for an additional 24 hours to ensure full stabilization. Next, LADWP crews will install the base layer and apply new asphalt, ensuring all street restoration materials and methods have been approved by the city of West Hollywood. Water-quality crews will disinfect the repaired section of pipe with chlorine, followed by comprehensive water-quality testing to ensure full compliance with all drinking water standards. Afterward, the water will be safely dechlorinated and discharged into the storm drain system.
On Tuesday, officials said that “barring any unexpected issues or delays,” Sunset Boulevard could reopen “later this week.” Over 250 LADWP personnel have been working on the repair. “We remain focused on meeting every requirement needed to return this pipeline to service and we thank the community’s patience and understanding during this time,” said Anselmo Collins in a Tuesday news release.
By Tuesday afternoon, LADWP crews were nearly done backfilling the massive excavation hole. “Crews have placed 300 cubic yards or 30 truckloads of concrete slurry into the trench following thorough pressure testing and verification that all identified leaks were fully resolved,” the LADWP announced. Water quality tests will also be required to put the pipe back into service. No water service interruptions are expected while LADWP finishes the repair work; the water supply to the affected neighborhood continues through an 8-inch distribution pipeline and drinking water remains safe. Until the repaired 36-inch pipe is returned to service, customers are still urged to conserve water to avoid issues for residents and businesses on upper floors.
In an appearance on the KTLA 5 Morning News, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who oversees LADWP, said that crews would have a better sense of when repairs would be complete by noon Monday. “The hope is that it will be a couple of days,” Mayor Bass told KTLA. “But I just have to tell you, going on that scene…I was fearful it was going to take weeks and weeks. I was shocked they were actually going to be able to repair it sooner than later.”
LADWP officials said that crews completed a “critical leak repair” late Sunday night on the 36-inch Sunset transmission trunk line, which marked “another significant step toward safely restoring water and reopening the streets in West Hollywood.” “The pipeline is currently being repressurized as crews continue detailed inspections to verify integrity and ensure zero leaks remain before moving forward,” officials said Monday morning. “LADWP emphasizes that thoroughness, not short-cuts, is the priority. Each phase of this multi-day restoration effort involves precise technical procedures designed to protect water quality, structural safety, and reliability for the community.”
Officials now expect the impacted stretch of Sunset Boulevard to fully reopen by the end of the week once curing, water quality testing, and regulatory approvals are complete. The 24-hour concrete slurry curing process and water quality testing are actively underway. Once the concrete slurry cures, LADWP will complete pipe disinfection and water quality testing to secure final regulatory approvals. Following these checks, the 36-inch trunk line will be returned to service, the roadway will be repaved, and Sunset Boulevard will reopen to traffic.
As of Wednesday, crews have reached a critical milestone: main pipe repairs are welded into place and concrete slurry has been poured. Workers are now advancing toward street resurfacing, water quality testing, and fully reopening the corridor by the end of the week. Over 250 LADWP workers poured 30 truckloads—300 cubic yards—of concrete slurry into the excavation trench following thorough pressure testing to ensure all leaks were resolved. Crews are currently awaiting the completion of the 24-hour slurry curing process while actively disinfecting the newly repaired pipe with chlorine to ensure it remains free of bacteria. Asphalt repaving is expected to begin today. Drinking water remains completely safe for residents, and neighborhood service continues uninterrupted through an auxiliary 8-inch distribution line. However, LADWP continues to urge customers to conserve water to help avoid lower water pressure periods during peak demand times.
Multiple road closures remain active as work nears completion: Hard Closures: Sunset & Horn; Sunset east of Larrabee; Palm Ave & Santa Monica; Larrabee & Santa Monica; Palm (south and north of Nelles). Soft Closures: Sunset & San Vicente; Sunset & Larrabee (north/south); Sunset west of Sherbourne; Holloway (Hancock to Palm); Cynthia & San Vicente.
Officials have not yet released estimates regarding the total financial cost of the repairs or the full extent of private property damage across West Hollywood.
However, a new setback occurred Wednesday night. At about 8:30 p.m., crews noticed water coming up from an area that had been backfilled and prepared for paving, according to LADWP officials. "While compacting the concrete aggregate base in advance of final street resurfacing, water began to pool at the surface toward the eastern edge of the work area," LADWP said. "Crews are now excavating to find the source of the leak and assessing the extent of the damage to immediately begin additional repairs." Before this latest development, the affected section of Sunset Boulevard was expected to reopen later this week. Officials have not said how the latest incident could affect that timeline.
According to LADWP, the sinkhole measured about 60 feet long, 40 feet wide and between 6 and 10 feet deep after the water receded. Crews used about 30 truckloads of slurry mix to backfill the hole nearly to street level. "We made a lot of progress completing our slurry backfill," said Joe Castruita, water distribution manager for LADWP. "The crews are also now currently prepping the trench and getting it prepared for the paving."
On Wednesday night, a new leak emerged from the backfilled sinkhole, further delaying the reopening. Around 8:30 p.m., water began pooling at the surface near the eastern edge of the work zone while crews compacted concrete aggregate base to prepare for asphalt, according to LADWP. Crews are now re-excavating the sinkhole area to pinpoint the new leak, assess damage, and execute additional repairs. Once the new leak is resolved, the isolated water inside the repaired section must pass safety testing before the trunk line returns to service. Final asphalt paving will take place only after leak repairs and water safety tests are fully complete. LADWP has not provided an updated completion date or time for reopening Sunset Boulevard.
LADWP described the new leak as a “pinhole sized leak.” Workers excavated a 3-by 4-foot area to find the source of the leak and will begin welding a patch at the leak site on Thursday. It is not clear what caused the second rupture. But the utility said it is on track to reopen Sunset Boulevard on Friday. A portion of the iconic street has been closed for a week so far.
Despite the new pinhole leak, LADWP officials maintained that work remains on track for a late-week reopening. "Currently, there are no known impacts to our goal of reopening the street Friday," the utility stated in a morning update. "LADWP crews continued repaving and striping of Sunset Boulevard early (Thursday) morning while working to repair a small pinhole-sized leak identified last night at the east end of the worksite. Overnight crews excavated an approximately 3x4 foot area to locate the affected area. Water quality samples were taken from the pipe this morning and will be followed by welding a patch at the site of the leak. If all goes well, the excavation will be repacked and paved." Speaking live from the site, Cesar Rubio, LADWP Director of Water Distribution, addressed the new leak and the timeline to FOX 11's Gigi Graciette. "Last night around approximately 8:30 p.m. our crews found a saturated wet spot on the east side of the excavation. They excavated down and found a small leak," he said. When asked if the leak had been fixed, Rubio noted, "It has not... Next steps we have in plan. Our schedule is to dewater the trunk line so we can make the necessary repairs." Regarding the timeline for reopening Sunset Boulevard, Rubio clarified, "Absolutely, I said by the end of the week, so it could be Friday or Saturday." When asked about firm deadlines, Rubio added: "It's hard to put a deadline on that," while confirming the remaining tasks. "There's some re-striping that needs to be taken place and then some cleanup and some demobilization from the contractors and our crews. But essentially, that's it."
Separately, LADWP responded to a 6-inch cast-iron water main leak break at Laurel Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, about a mile from the Sunset site. Officials confirmed this secondary break is entirely unrelated to the Sunset Boulevard trunk line or its pressurization. Restoration for the Santa Monica Boulevard leak is anticipated around 4 p.m. Thursday. Addressing the separate break, Rubio explained, "[It's a] six-inch cast iron water main leak. We have two to four leaks per day that happen within the city of Los Angeles. We are a big city to take care of, so no relation to this one."
LADWP confirmed that drinking water remains safe across the system with no service interruptions expected, though residents are asked to conserve water. The utility noted its system leak rate is 16.1 leaks per 100 miles of pipe, 36% below the national average of 25 leaks per 100 miles.
The specific cause of the original main break remains under investigation. Utility officials also noted that they do not know the exact origin of the new pinhole leak, explaining that secondary leaks can occasionally appear nearby when mains are re-pressurized.
Crews will dewater the trunk line, weld a metal patch over the pinhole leak, repack the excavation, and complete final paving and restriping. The isolated water inside the disinfected pipe section must pass water quality testing before the trunk line can be officially reopened for service. Once cleanup and contractor demobilization are complete, Sunset Boulevard will reopen to traffic.
On Thursday afternoon, DWP welders completed repairs to the small pinhole leak on the repaired 36-inch water pipe, the department announced. Crews then began slowly refilling and repressurizing the pipe while closely monitoring for any issues before backfilling and temporarily repaving the area. The DWP announced it will continue performing water quality testing to ensure all standards are met before returning the repaired pipe to service. The next steps are to complete temporary repaving and lining the closed stretch of Sunset Boulevard. The DWP said crews will return in the coming weeks to complete permanent repaving and repair a nearby bus pad and adjoining sidewalk. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is expecting to reopen a stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood damaged by a major water main break by Friday evening.
However, a new leak appeared Friday morning in an existing portion of the pipe, LADWP said. Water will be rerouted through an existing 8-inch pipeline while a 12-inch valve is replaced. 'This alternate isolation plan allows us to begin backfilling and paving operations at the site and enables our expected reopening of Sunset Boulevard tonight,' LADWP wrote in a news release.
Impact on Residents and Businesses
The break has caused significant hardship. West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman estimated that 100 to 150 vehicles were damaged, with most expected to be total losses. Two buildings remain without electrical power, and city security ambassadors have been stationed outside for safety. Some businesses, including the iconic Book Soup and Dialog Cafe, have announced indefinite closures.
Residents have been asked to conserve water because the area is currently supplied through a smaller 8-inch pipe, which may cause low water pressure on upper floors during peak demand. LADWP has set up a hotline (1-800-DIAL-DWP) for water supply concerns.
The city held a Zoom meeting with affected residents to discuss displacement, parking, and claims. Officials are working with local businesses and property owners to arrange alternative parking for those using rental cars.
Mayor John Heilman said Saturday that two buildings in the area were still without power, their electrical panels compromised by water intrusion. No injuries had been reported since Thursday’s break, he said. He thanked LADWP crews and City staff, and asked media outlets to stop flying helicopters over the site, saying it was adding to the disruption for residents already dealing with enough.
Residents and businesses that lost property and suffered damages can find information about filing claims at www.LADWP.com/Claims.
The mayor estimated that between 150 and 200 vehicles were damaged or destroyed in flooded garages. He also said several homes were affected by the flooding. “There were seven units that suffered water intrusion. Four of them were pretty significant water intrusion. The other three was relatively minor or moderate intrusion,” Heilman said. Two residential buildings remain without power as repairs continue. “They're waiting to get electricians in there who can replace their electrical panels. Until that is done, the buildings remain without power,” Heilman said.
Heilman said the city held a productive virtual meeting with residents Sunday morning to answer questions about the water main break and ongoing recovery efforts. Many residents are still coping with the damage caused by the flooding, according to the mayor. “People still suffering a great deal of trauma if they've lost their cars and they've lost their place to live temporarily, but we're working very closely with them to try to assist,” Heilman said.
Heilman encouraged anyone who suffered property damage to visit the city’s website for information about insurance claims and available assistance. LADWP has also stationed staff in the area to help residents file damage claims.
Affected residents and business owners seeking support can also access city resources, parking changes, and hotel discounts at weho.org/watermainbreak.
Downhill from the sinkhole on Palm Avenue, people continued working to remove water-damaged, mud-covered vehicles from underground garages affected by the flooding.
Local California Context
West Hollywood is a densely populated city in Los Angeles County, known for its vibrant nightlife, entertainment industry, and historic Sunset Strip. The closed section of Sunset Boulevard runs through a commercial and residential corridor that sees heavy traffic daily. The break also forced the shortening of the CicLAvia open-streets event on Sunday, which normally passes through West Hollywood.
The rupture highlights the fragility of aging infrastructure in Southern California. LADWP’s water system includes many pipes over a century old, and the utility is under pressure to accelerate replacements. According to city officials, a comprehensive plan to replace all water mains along Sunset Boulevard is in development but is not slated to begin until 2031.
Thursday’s fracture was on a riveted steel pipe from 1916 that is part of the system of major arteries that deliver water from reservoirs and tanks to smaller distribution mainlines across Los Angeles. There are about 547 miles of trunk line underground across the city, much of which is nearing the end of its useful life and will need to be replaced in the coming years.
Still, trunk lines appear to be in better condition than the utility’s mainlines. Data provided by the agency showed that less than 1% of its trunk lines have “D” or “F” condition ratings, according to a survey conducted by DWP in 2022. In 2018, more than 50% of trunk line segments were more than 65 years old and 11% were more than 100 years old, the report states.
The section of the Sunset trunk line where the break occurred is slated to be replaced in 2031 as part of a larger project that includes replacing 6.4 miles of trunk line, 3.5 miles of a 12-inch distribution pipe and a pressure regulating station. That project is expected to take about four years, Anselmo Collins, DWP’s chief operating officer and senior assistant general manager, told The Times last week.
Following the break, LADWP announced on Friday that it will accelerate the full replacement of the affected trunk line, a project previously scheduled to begin in 2031.
The ruptured 36-inch line is part of the 10-mile Sunset Trunk Line. The cause of the break remains under investigation. However, Collins noted that line pressure naturally reaches its highest levels overnight when overall customer demand drops.
Background
Water main breaks are not uncommon in Los Angeles County, where much of the underground infrastructure dates to the early 20th century. In recent years, major breaks have occurred in neighborhoods like Sherman Oaks and downtown L.A., causing flooding and road damage. The West Hollywood break is among the largest in recent memory, releasing an estimated 17 million gallons—enough to fill about 26 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The ruptured pipe was part of a 36-inch transmission line that supplies water to thousands of customers. LADWP has activated 200 personnel to the response and is coordinating with the Metropolitan Water District, Los Angeles County Public Works, and other utilities to protect underground infrastructure during repairs.
The utility said it replaced more than 246,000 feet of water pipeline during 2024 and 2025 and is on track to replace another 246,000 feet this year. The department also said its leak rate is 36% below the national average, averaging 16.1 leaks per 100 miles of pipe compared with 25 leaks per 100 miles nationwide.
Conclusion
While LADWP has made significant progress replacing the broken pipe, the full reopening of Sunset Boulevard has been achieved after a week of intensive repair work. The road reopened to traffic at about 11 p.m. Friday night, with crews planning to return for permanent paving in the coming weeks. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to modernize California’s aging water systems before the next catastrophic failure.
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman expressed gratitude: “On behalf of the West Hollywood City Council and our entire community, I'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated LADWP crews who worked around the clock under extraordinarily challenging conditions. I also want to thank our City employees, first responders, regional agency partners, local businesses, neighborhood organizations, and countless residents who demonstrated patience, resilience, and compassion throughout this response. We know this incident caused significant hardship for many people, particularly those whose homes, businesses, and daily routines were directly impacted. While reopening Sunset is an important milestone, we still have a lot to do to help our residents and businesses recover from this incident.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also thanked the crews and noted that LADWP is accelerating plans to fully replace the original pipe, originally scheduled for 2031. “Thank you to the LADWP crews who have been working around the clock to make repairs. LADWP is also accelerating plans to fully replace the original pipe to strengthen reliability,” she said.
LADWP said the replacement project, expected to span approximately four years, will require detailed traffic management planning and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The city noted that the current repaving is temporary and that permanent repairs will cause additional temporary closures in the coming weeks.
“Our crews worked tirelessly, day and night, to make progress on the complex, multi-step repairs,” said David W. Hanson, LADWP's interim general manager. “The West Hollywood community has shown remarkable patience and resilience throughout this challenging week.”
Looking ahead, LADWP has committed to accelerating the full replacement of the trunk line—a project originally scheduled for 2031. The full replacement is projected to take four years and will involve extensive traffic management planning, community coordination, and environmental permitting.