Our advice to you is to steer clear of Studio City this morning if you can -- a ruptured water main has Ventura Blvd. closed from Whitsett to Coldwater Canyon. According to KTLA, the pipe burst at about 8:20 last night, flooding the major thoroughfare completely. Crews are working to clean it up and suggest taking alternate streets like Riverside or Moorpark to those who can't avoid the area. more ›

The heavyweight Hollywood mogul and talent concentration of power was so tremendous last night that the earth gave way, and opened up, and nearly swallowed Tinseltown. Okay, we are totally kidding. There was, however, a sinkhole in Hollywood last night, caused by a water main that was first reported broken at around 9 p.m. last night, just minutes after the Academy Awards ended. more ›

After what seemed like an endless stream of water main breaks over the past several months experts determined that the disruptive and damaging bursts were likely caused by the stress put on the pipes due to the water rationing schedule implemented by the Department of Water and Power in conjunction with the City Council. more ›

A 6-inch water main ruptured early this morning in South Los Angeles, causing a loss of service to about 20 homes in the area of the break, reports cbs2. By about 4:15 the water was shut off and crews were actively working on repairing the line. No information about the extent of the damage or the cause of the break has been made available as of yet. On Thursday night a main break in Downtown caused extensive flooding and led to some businesses closing for the evening. Water main breaks, thought to be the result of pressure built in the lines from periods of non-use followed by surges of use, have been a rampant issue in L.A. for over a year. more ›

Pacific Coast Highway was shut down overnight following a crash that led to a ruptured water main that caused the street to flood, according to KTLA. The accident happened in the 1100 block of PCH shortly after 12:30 a.m. today, when a DUI suspect was involved in a crash; "impact of the collision caused the pipe to burst, sending a huge geyser into the air..." more ›

This isn't exactly the kind of "movie magic" spectacle Universal Studios is known for: The Los Angeles DWP had a second significant water main break on their hands this morning after a line "that feeds Universal Studios sent torrents of water into the Los Angeles River," according to LA Now. It was a passerby who reported seeing the water gushing over an embankment, which alerted a response crew to go to the scene at the 3700 block of Barham Blvd. near Lakeside Plaza Drive [map]. A fire department spokesperson says no homes were threatened by the line break and flowing water. Earlier this morning the DWP dealt with a line break in the Fairfax Village area. more ›

An 8-inch pipe ruptured overnight in the vicinity of Fairfax High School, according to cbs2. The line break "caused street flooding and reduced water service to about 30 nearby homes." As a result of the flooding, the 400 block of North Vista Street sustained damage. The cause of the break is not immediately known, and early LADWP guesses include factors such as "age, corrosion, traffic patterns in that area or something else." A recent scientific study attributes LA's increase in water main breaks to our usage restriction pattern. more ›

Water conservation strategies implemented last year are considered the main reason for a series of unprecedented 101 major water main breaks last summer and fall, and now city officials say they are open to making changes in the water conservation program, according to LA Now. more ›

For something as minor as a leak on Coldwater Canyon Avenue last Thursday, the LADWP sure brought out a small army of workers, equipment, traffic cones and electronic signage to make sure it was fixed. And fixed it was. more ›

A 20-food-wide sinkhole developed in Historic Filipinotown this morning after a water main broke, reports the LA Times. At 12:48 a.m., an eight-inch cast iron pipe broke, cutting off service to about 30 homes, near Council and North Park View streets in HiFi. Water was shut off at 2 a.m. There are no reports of damage and crews hope to have everything fixed soon. more ›

Since 2 a.m. this morning, thee more pipes have burst, prompting more road closures, reports the LA Times. One burst on Mulholland Drive between Coldwater and Beverly Glen--another two broke in South LA at 83rd and Wall streets and Florence and Van Ness avenues. Yesterday afternoon, an LADWP water leak closed a portion of Rinaldi Street in Porter Ranch. So far, no conclusive word on why these are happening at such a destructive rate. more ›

A Thursday night water main break in the Hollywood Hills left about 20 people without water through this morning, reports the Daily News. The six-inch main burst in the Mount Olympus area in the Hollywood Hills affecting about 20 customers. No streets were closed. more ›

Have a frank talk with an LADWP official this month and they'll tell you it's been a tough few weeks. The perception of the city-owned utility has gone downhill amid a series of water main breaks, the sudden resignation of David Nahai (however, with a comfy consulting gig) and one moderate rainstorm knocking out electricity service to nearly 50,000 customers. more ›

KNX1070 is reporting that the head of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power will resign today. A rash of recent water main breaks, including flooding in Studio City and a fire truck sucking sinkhole in Valley Village, apparently has played a role in CEO David Nahai's decision. An announcement by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected at 1 p.m. more ›

No definitive cause to the growing number of blowouts yet, but south of the Miracle Mile this morning was the next area added to a list that has topped 30 for this month alone. Around 6 a.m. a water main burst, flooding the streets and cutting off service to 40 to 50 LADWP customers. This comes after bursts in Encino and Hollywood Hills over the weekend. more ›

Another day, another "major blowout" of a water main line in Los Angeles' DWP system. This one took place at around 2:45 this morning in the 5600 block of Wish Avenue in Encino," reports LA Now. "The cause of the break was not immediately clear." About 70 customers are currently without water service in the break area. more ›

Lincoln Boulevard near Palms Boulevard in Venice is the latest pin on the increasingly-crowded map of locations where a water main break has caused damage and service interruption. This morning a rupture occurred in the area, causing the pavement to buckle and forcing the closure of lanes of traffic, according to LA Now. There have now been 35 of these "major blowouts" in the LA water system since the first of this month--far more than in September 2008 (21), 2007 (17), and 2006 (13). While "City engineers trying to determine what's causing the water main bursts have been taking soil samples, sending pipe pieces to labs and performing a statistical analysis on each break," many believe the infrastructure is experiencing the strain of surges because L.A. only allows large-scale watering two days a week, which is taxing on the aging pipes. more ›

Two water mains ruptured in the early morning hours in the West Valley today, the first in Winnetka close to 2:30 a.m., and the second around 4:30 a.m. a mile and a half south in Warner Center, according to MyFOXla.com. City leaders and DWP customers are worried that there seems to be more significant main breaks lately than usual, but it could just be that we all have water (mains) on the brain because of the two high-profile breaks that occurred earlier this month in Studio City and Valley Village. more ›

Considering the recent flooding in Studio City, a fire truck consumed into a Valley Village street and various other floods throughout the city--Melrose Ave., South LA, Exposition Ave.--Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials said today that in order to repair the city's older infrastructure within the 7,200 miles of piping, they will ask the City Council to increase water rates, according to the LA Times. more ›

After a week of repairs, Coldwater Canyon is expected to reopen late tomorrow afternoon, the Daily News reports. The pipe has been fixed and the street has been backfilled by the Department of Water and Power. Now the Bureau of Street Services is reconstructing the street, which should be finished tomorrow. more ›

With two major water main breaks over the last week (plus about three more notable ones), the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power is in the hot seat, so to speak. The City Council looked into the issue yesterday and in a statement Councilman Tom LaBonge says he does not want any more surprises. more ›

Again with the flooding? Yes, as statistics go, again. No word if this is a LADWP water main break or not, but the Los Angeles Fire Department has responded to flooding at 1529 West 54th Street in the Chesterfield Square neighborhood of South LA. "There's enough water and potential to cause damage," explained LAFD spokesman Erik Scott over the phone. The street is closed between Denker and Normandie and no injuries or initial damage has been reported, he said. Two water mains broke this morning in the Mid City and Fairfax District area. Earlier this week, headlines were made in Valley Village when a fire truck sunk into the ground and when a part of Studio City was severely flooded. UPDATE: LADWP confirms a "small distribution leak" on a 6-inch cast iron main that has left 50 customers without service. Crews are in the process of shutting it down. more ›

A little clarification from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power regarding a figure officials told us earlier today. A spokesman writes in: "We have approximately 1400 water main leaks and breaks per year (and this number is on the decline due to our infrastructure replacement endeavors wherein we line the pipes with concrete.) At any rate, 1400 per year equates to approximately 4 per day- a very low number for the nation’s largest municipal utility." more ›

After major flooding in Studio City and a fire truck stuck halfway into the street in Valley Village, there is some hyperawareness regarding water main breaks. Two more water mains broke early this morning in the Mid-City area, which statistically means there should be about two more later today. That's because there are about 1,400 breaks a year, averaging out to four a day, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. Between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. this morning, two breaks were reported. One on the 1400 block of Hi Point in the Fairfax/Pico area where about 50 customers are without water service, which should return by noon. There was no damage, but there was "a little mud on the street as a result of it," explained spokesperson Gale Harris over the phone. Further north near Fairfax and Beverly, another break occurred on the 100 block of Hayworth, affecting 30 to 50 customers. Harris said the department is investigating to figure if these breaks are related. more ›

Despite progress on a broken water main that flooded a part of Studio City, officials do not know when the busy canyon route will re-open. "At this time, it is not possible to estimate when street repair work will be complete and Coldwater Canyon Avenue will be reopened," a statement read from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. more ›

It's not LADWP's job to be a special effects studio. First a flood, 3 to 4 feet high in some spots sweeping away a handful of cars, last Saturday night in Studio City and this morning a fire truck stuck half way into the ground in neighboring Valley Village (the firefighters escaped safely). more ›

As the the Department of Water and Power faces a second water main break of the week--this latest one sucked in a fire truck--the first one from Saturday night continues to leave Coldwater Canyon Boulevard closed to rush hour commuters as they return from the holiday weekend. The popular over-the-hill cut through to Beverly Hills is closed between Ventura Boulevard and Halkirk Street and between Moorpark and Ventura Boulevard (see a map below). more ›

Early this morning in Valley Village a water main break northeast of where a trunk line ruptured this weekend and caused massive flooding in Studio City has caused a sinkhole to swallow a fire engine and water and mud to flow into the streets. The fire truck was responding to the call to Hartsook Street at Bellingham around 5:30 this morning when the road was believed to still be stable. According to a live report on KTLA residents of the street have noted that the truck seems to be sinking further. The broken line delivers water to area homes, and it's unclear if its break is related to the previous Valley line break. Water and dirt are moving from the sinkhole area, east on Hartsook and south on Laurel Canyon towards Riverside Drive, potentially causing woes for motorists--either trying to drive or whose cars are parked where the mud has flown. more ›

Late last night a 64-inch water main burst in Studio City at Ventura Boulevard and Coldwater Canyon, according to the LA Times. The water flooded into area businesses and homes, and was 3-4' high in places, according to an LAFD email alert. more ›

Sherman Oaks residents on Woodcliff Drive, just south of Mulholland, woke up to a water main break this morning that shut down and slowed traffic. A six-inch pipe broke shortly before 7 a.m. prompting Department of Water and Power crews to lower water pressure in the area so they could begin repairs, according to LADWP spokesperson Stephanie Interiano. She said there is no estimated time when things will be back to normal, however, some news reports indicate that this could last for a few days. more ›