The break occurred in a 36-inch steel pipe dating back to 1916 and caused major flooding throughout the area. (photo by Tabor Brewster)

Updated July 24 at 1 p.m.:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews are now expected to reopen Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood late Friday, July 24, after discovering a second leak in the repaired 36-inch water transmission main during testing earlier in the day.

The latest leak appeared in an existing section of pipe after crews repaired a pinhole-sized leak Thursday evening and began repressurizing the line. LADWP officials said workers immediately shut valves and drained the affected section to begin additional repairs.

Rather than restoring the entire transmission main immediately, LADWP will temporarily isolate the damaged section and reroute water through an existing 8-inch pipeline. The department said the alternate plan will allow crews to backfill the excavation, complete temporary paving and reopen the roadway while maintaining water service for customers along Sunset Boulevard.

As part of the work, crews will replace a 12-inch valve on July 24. Approximately 25 water service connections may experience low water pressure or temporary service interruptions lasting two to four hours during the replacement. LADWP said it will provide water on-site to affected customers if necessary.

The department added that because the transmission main primarily carries water between reservoirs and serves few customers directly, the temporary configuration will continue providing water service to customers in the area, including those nearest the break. LADWP is also coordinating with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to ensure emergency response capabilities remain available.

Although the street is expected to reopen Friday night, the pavement placed over the repair site will be temporary. LADWP crews will return in the coming weeks to complete permanent paving and other roadway repairs in coordination with the city of West Hollywood.

LADWP also announced it will accelerate plans to replace the aging Sunset Boulevard transmission main. The project, previously scheduled to begin in 2031, is approximately 60% designed. Officials said the replacement will require several years of construction, environmental review, permitting and coordination with the city, nearby businesses and residents.

For information and updates, visit weho.org/watermainbreak.

Updated July 24 at 10:30 a.m.:

Sunset Boulevard is expected to reopen to traffic Friday, July 24, as Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews complete emergency repairs to the ruptured 36-inch water transmission main beneath the roadway in West Hollywood.

LADWP crews completed repairs Thursday afternoon to a small pinhole leak discovered during final testing of the newly repaired pipeline. With welding complete, crews began slowly refilling and repressurizing the pipe while monitoring for any additional issues before backfilling the excavation and temporarily repaving the roadway.

The department is also continuing water quality testing before returning the transmission main to full service. Officials said work remains on schedule for the pipeline to be fully operational and for the street to reopen by the end of the day July 24.

Although traffic is expected to resume, the paving completed this week is temporary. LADWP crews will return in the coming weeks to perform permanent street repairs, including final paving and repairs to a nearby bus pad and adjoining sidewalk. The department said it will coordinate with the city of West Hollywood before that work begins to minimize traffic impacts.

Until the roadway reopens, hard closures remain in effect at Sunset Boulevard and Horn Avenue; Sunset Boulevard east of Larrabee Street; Palm Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard; Larrabee Street and Santa Monica Boulevard; and Palm Avenue north and south of Nelles Street. Soft closures also remain in place at Sunset Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard; Sunset Boulevard and Larrabee Street; Sunset Boulevard west of Sherbourne Drive; Holloway Drive between Hancock and Palm avenues; and Cynthia Street at North San Vicente Boulevard.

Updated July 23 at 11:30 a.m.:

A separate water main break occurred at approximately 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, near 8497 W. Santa Monica Blvd., while repairs were wrapping up on the larger Sunset Boulevard pipeline rupture.

According to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power spokesperson Albert Rodriguez, the new break involved a 6-inch cast iron water main and affected three buildings, though no damage has been reported.

LADWP crews were on scene making repairs Thursday morning, and no estimate was immediately available for when the work would be completed. Rodriguez said the new incident is unrelated to the 36-inch transmission main that ruptured on July 16 and will not affect ongoing work to complete repairs and reopen Sunset Boulevard.

Original story published July 22:

Repair work on the ruptured water main beneath Sunset Boulevard entered its final stages on Wednesday, July 22, with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews preparing to repave the roadway and reopen the street later this week if work continues as scheduled.

LADWP officials said crews have completed repairs, welding, leak checks and repressurization. The pipeline is now undergoing disinfection and water quality testing before returning to service. Crews are also waiting for slurry – cement-based fill material used during the repair process – to complete a 24-hour curing period before paving asphalt over the excavation site. Once testing confirms the water meets quality standards, the pipeline will be returned to service.

The 36-inch steel water main, installed in 1916, ruptured shortly before 4 a.m. on July 16, flooding portions of Sunset Boulevard and surrounding streets in West Hollywood with approximately 17 million gallons of water, prompting extensive road closures while crews completed the complex repair. Throughout the weeklong response, LADWP coordinated with the city of West Hollywood and other agencies while assisting residents and businesses with damage claims.

LADWP said drinking water remains safe, no service interruptions are expected as work nears completion and customers are still encouraged to conserve water during periods of high demand to help avoid low water pressure.

Video recorded at the scene showed the water flow was so intense that it swept vehicles onto the sidewalk. Apartment buildings, homes and businesses including Dialog Café at 8766 Holloway Drive and Book Soup at 8818 Sunset Blvd. sustained significant damage from flooding, prompting indefinite closures.

Sinkholes were reported throughout the area. A media report stated that two men fell into a sinkhole near Palm Avenue and Sunset Boulevard but were not injured. Several garages near the break were completely filled with water within hours, inundating cars and property.

“It was just like a river flooding down here,” said Pharose King, a resident of an apartment building on Palm Avenue. “We were all trapped in … This whole building was flooded and the water was going through and it flooded the entire garage. All the cars are flooded … It literally looked like a waterpark, just raging water running down this street.”

Dialog Café owner Tadeh Ghazalian said he woke up on July 16 to missed calls and messages from employees but did not grasp the extent of the damage until he arrived at the restaurant later that morning.

“I’ve walked to this place every single morning for the past 17 years,” Ghazalian said. “Definitely a very different scene on Thursday.”

Although water entered the restaurant, Ghazalian said no employees were injured.

“My staff is safe. Nobody got hurt. Everybody’s OK, so that’s the most important thing for us right now,” he said. “Nobody prepares for something like that. We’re taking it day by day and figuring out what’s next.”

The restaurant remains closed while the owners assess the damage and determine what repairs are needed. Ghazalian said the damage was so extensive that he barely knew where to begin in the recovery process.

“If you tell me what a breakfast burrito costs and what you have to do to build one, I’ll tell you exactly how to do it,” Ghazalian said. “This is one of those situations where I have no clue. It’s way over my head right now.”

Ghazalian said the outpouring of support from city officials, neighboring businesses and the community has helped keep his team optimistic.

“It is insane how many different people from different departments have come in and [said], ‘We’re here. Tell us what you need, how we need to support.’” he said. “That helps you hold your back strong. We’re going to figure this out. We’re going to get past this.”

The restaurant employs more than 90 people, many of whom have families that depend on their income, he added.

“There are a lot of families … every dollar counts here,” Ghazalian said. “It’s a lot of pressure to figure out what to do. At the same time, I want to make sure I’m there for my team.”

Ghazalian encouraged customers to support Dialog Café by visiting its West Los Angeles location while the Sunset Boulevard restaurant remains closed. Dialog Café launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the restaurant and its staff, which had raised nearly $50,000 as of July 22. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-bring-dialog-home.

“We are grateful that no injuries have been reported as a result of this significant water main break. We are working closely with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and our regional partners to respond to this incident as quickly and safely as possible,” West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said. “I want to thank our Public Works, Community Safety and Parking teams, along with all first responders, for their swift and coordinated efforts.”

At a West Hollywood City Council meeting on July 20, council members thanked city staff and first responders for their coordinated efforts during the emergency.

“The executive leadership team barely slept the entire weekend,” Vice Mayor Danny Hang said, noting that the city manager and staff immediately mobilized to the incident scene in the early morning hours of July 16.

He added that he and Heilman visited impacted residents to provide support and resources that morning, standing in inches of water inside peoples’ homes and apartments. He said the community’s care for each other represented the best of West Hollywood during difficult times.

“Of the many people that I’ve met the morning of the incident that were greatly impacted, none of them seemed to really be upset,” Hang said. “They were more concerned about their neighbors – getting them the appropriate resources … So I want to thank the West Hollywood community members to work together to care for one another during this horrific incident. I’m glad that no one was seriously injured and no one died, but it’s just a testament to our will as a city, to our will as a community to work together to protect one another.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, 3rd District, encouraged impacted residents to reach out directly to her office for assistance.

“LADWP is hard at work repairing the damaged water main, and the city of West Hollywood is taking the steps necessary to reopen Sunset Boulevard once they’re able to safely do so,” Horvath said in a statement. “As the county partner in this effort, we’re focused on supporting residents, workers and businesses with county resources. Whether it’s unemployment assistance, CalFresh, housing resources or other support services, we encourage anyone affected to reach out directly to my office so we can help.”

To reach the county supervisor’s office, call (213)974-3333 or email thirddistrict@bos.lacounty.gov.

Though the incident did not occur in Los Angeles, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference with Heilman near the break in West Hollywood on July 16 to address the public. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power services the cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, South Pasadena and Bishop, and is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the L.A. mayor and confirmed by the L.A. City Council.

Bass said the incident demonstrated the need to update the region’s infrastructure.

“In the city of Los Angeles, throughout our city, our infrastructure is extremely old,” Bass said. “Surprisingly, our city has never had a comprehensive infrastructure plan. I spent the last couple of years developing a comprehensive infrastructure plan, of which we rolled out about two months ago … Up until now, the city’s infrastructure was handled on a 15 council person basis. It is very difficult to repair the infrastructure that impacts the entire city – and clearly two cities, West Hollywood and Los Angeles – without a citywide plan.”

The public is urged to avoid driving in the area while repairs are made.

The following road closures remained in effect as of Wednesday, July 22:

Hard closures – Sunset Boulevard at Horn Avenue; Sunset Boulevard east of Larrabee Street; Palm Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard; Larrabee Street at Santa Monica Boulevard; and Palm Avenue north and south of Nelles Avenue.

Soft closures (local access only) – Sunset Boulevard at San Vicente Boulevard; Sunset Boulevard at Larrabee Street; Sunset Boulevard west of Sherbourne Drive; Holloway Drive between Hancock and Palm avenues; and Cynthia Street at San Vicente Boulevard.

To file a claim for damaged property, visit ladwp.com/claims.

For information and updates on the water main break, follow @wehocity on social media or visit weho.org/watermainbreak.