By ALEXANDRA BISSONNETTE Special to the Daily Press
CITY HALL Water shortage: Two words that Californian’s have become very used to hearing. Now Santa Monica and neighboring communities are facing one more reason to conserve water with the Metropolitan Water District’s announcement Wednesday that they will be repairing a regional pipeline that delivers water to as many as 12 million people.
“We are strengthening the pipeline where tests found that the pipe has deteriorated and there is concern about rupture,” said Rob Hallwachs, spokesman for the Metropolitan Water District. “A rupture could cause a water emergency.”
Earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a state wide drought warning, stating that California’s water supply is already dangerously low largely due to below average rainfall. The drought, coupled with a rupture in the deteriorated pipeline would lead to a water crisis in Southern California.
The MWD used electromagnetic currents to test the pre-stressed wire within the concrete that gives it its strength, Hallwachs said.
“Over the years, wiring can deteriorate,” Hallwachs said.“We found the deterioration in March of this year and planned the major repair project.”
The 45-mile-long Sepulveda feeder pipeline stretches from Granada Hills to Palos Verdes and serves Santa Monica. Repairs on the 12 mile portion in which deterioration was detected are expected to begin this Saturday. The expected completion date is July 2.
The repairs will be going on at three locations: under Sepulveda Boulevard outside the main entrance to Los Angeles National Cemetery, along with a portion under Slauson Avenue at Hannum Avenue in Culver City and under 64th Street near Le Doux Road in Ladera Heights.
“There is no chance that Santa Monica or surrounding communities will be without water,” Hallwachs said. “We made other arrangements in water distribution.”
During the two-week construction project, Santa Monica and other affected communities will receive water diverted from other pipelines.
The only possible negative effect that may be felt in Santa Monica would be problems associated with water pressure, Hallwachs said.
“The concern is that if it is extremely hot, use of water will rise.”
With forecasts predicting a heat wave this weekend, water conservation is even more important.
“We hope to avoid the water pressure problem by asking people to help us out,”Hallwachs said.
His suggestions include watering gardens every other day instead of every day, refraining from washing cars, taking shorter showers, and just being cautious and mindful when using water. In the past, people have been very responsive to calls for conservation, Hallwachs said, but he encourages people to make conservation a part of their daily lives.
“This program amounts to a voluntary conservation program,” said Gil Borboa, water resources manager for City Hall. “People should do the best they can to conserve in any way they can, but we don’t anticipate a mandatory conservation program at this time.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 19, 2008. Read the original PDF.