LADWP NewsLADWP News

FacebookTwitterInstagramVimeoNext Door

Pacific Palisades Fires: Correcting Misinformation about LADWP’s Water System

Drinking Water Declared Safe to Drink/Use in the Pacific Palisades


Do Not Drink Notice Cancelled Following Rigorous Testing

LOS ANGELES (March 7, 2025) – The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) has declared all tap water safe to drink in Pacific Palisades following the devastating fires that occurred on January 7, 2025. The cancellation of the Do Not Drink Notice first issued on January 10, 2025, is the end result of a comprehensive plan to screen and flush nearly 100 miles of the water distribution system within all nine LADWP service zones that comprise the area affected. This was followed by thorough and accurate water quality testing of 469 samples taken in the area. LADWP worked in close collaboration with the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (CA-DDW) to carry out the plan and lift the notice.

LADWP is informing customers in the remaining affected areas of Pacific Palisades zip code 90272, west of Temescal Canyon Road and north of Bestor Boulevard, that safe water has been restored using multiple methods, including individual door-hangers, website information, news and social media announcements, and customer-subscribed phone call/ email notification system. Tap water is now safe to use for many essential activities, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, dish washing, and laundry. Over 100 LADWP employees will canvas the community to distribute door hangers and post signage in prominent locations informing them of the safe restoration of water service.

“We want to thank our customers for their cooperation and great patience during this complex operation to restore water quality in the Pacific Palisades,” said Jonathan Leung, LADWP Director of Water Quality. “Our aim was to be meticulous and detailed in our testing to provide our customers with the most reliable and best water quality possible. Our staff worked with care, focus and dedication knowing how much the restoration of water quality would mean to local residents as they continue to rebuild their community.”

A Boil Water notice for Pacific Palisades was first issued on January 8th for zip code 90272 and adjacent communities north of San Vicente Blvd. At the time there was a concern that the lowered water pressure could lead to bacteria in the water distribution system. On January 10, this was changed to a Do Not Drink Notice due to the potential for fire-related contaminants entering the water distribution system. Water Quality, GIS and Communications staff worked quickly to create a Water Quality Restoration website, which includes an FAQ, interactive maps of the affected zones, a progress dashboard and other useful information. To help provide clean drinking water in the area for customers, LADWP also set up bottled water distribution sites for customers around various neighborhoods within the Palisades.

Customers are strongly advised to take the following steps to flush out any stagnant water that may be present in their home or business plumbing.

Prepare your site for flushing. Remove aerators and screens from all faucets. Set water-softening devices and filters, both point-of-use and whole-house, to “bypass mode.”

  1. Flush outside plumbing. Open and flush any external fixtures and hose bibs/faucets for about 10 minutes or until water is clear and temperature is constant.
  2. Flush cold water. Run all cold-water faucets on the property beginning with the faucet closest to the water line. Run the water at the highest flow (or fully open) for about 10 minutes or until water is clear and temperature is constant.  Then turn off all faucets in reverse order.
  3. Flush all toilets. Do this at least once but repeat if the refilled water is not clear.
  4. Flush hot water. Drain your hot water tank to discharge any accumulated sediments. Wait for the hot water tank to refill and flush as in Step 3.
  5. Clean aerators and screens and reattach to faucets, shower heads, and fixtures.
  6. Flush appliances. Run empty dishwasher and washing machine once on rinse cycle. Empty ice from ice maker bin; run ice maker and discard 2 additional batches of ice.
  7. Restore all removed filters and reset all water devices from “bypass mode.”

Customers who may have further questions about water quality in their area can visit the water quality restoration website at www.ladwp.com/PalisadesWQ or call the LADWP Water Quality Hotline at (213) 367-3182 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or they can call 1-800-DIAL-DWP for 24-hour assistance.

###