In January, wildfires devastated parts of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, destroying thousands of homes and damaging essential water and sewer systems. The small water systems in these areas faced the most severe impact, with a study from UCLA highlighting the extent of the destruction. In Altadena, nearly 80% of the Rubio Cañon Land & Water Association’s service area was affected, while 88% of Las Flores Water Company’s territory also burned. In stark contrast, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which serves about 4 million residents, saw less than 5% of its area damaged.
Gregory Pierce, co-director of UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, emphasized the need for a rethink of water infrastructure. He noted that the fires pushed these systems to their limits, financially and physically. “We need to focus on redesigning systems that are more equitable and resilient for future crises,” he said.
Researchers from UCLA, the University of Massachusetts, and Stantec examined the fires’ impact on 11 community water systems and two sewer systems across Los Angeles County. They found that many of the affected systems serve fewer than 1,000 customers, making recovery particularly challenging. Smaller systems like Las Flores and Lincoln Avenue Water Company are struggling financially as they try to rebuild without sufficient revenue.
The report also pointed out the demographic makeup of the affected areas. While many of the damaged systems serve wealthier communities with a higher percentage of homeowners, some, like Las Flores and Lincoln Avenue, serve neighborhoods with significant Black populations, which is higher than the county average.
As these smaller water suppliers look to recover, they face hurdles due to limited funding options. The researchers stressed that while federal and state support can help, many of these systems will need to rely on their own resources to pay for repairs. Pierce warned that rising costs could lead to higher water rates for residents, complicating affordability in the future.
The fires have sparked important discussions about the resilience of drinking water and wastewater systems. As recovery efforts continue, it is clear that sustained support is crucial to ensure these systems can withstand future challenges.