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Published on January 09, 2025
Boil Water Notice Issued in Los Angeles Amid Wildfires, Pasadena Declares Do-Not-Drink AlertSource: Unsplash/engin akyurt

As Southern California grapples with ongoing brush fires, water quality concerns have emerged, prompting public safety notices in Los Angeles and Pasadena. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has issued a boil water notice for residents in the Pacific Palisades area due to compromised water quality caused by the massive Palisades Fire, as reported by KTLA. LADWP's CEO, Janisse Quiñones, stated during a news conference that due to the intense demands on the water system, residents within the 90272 zip code should boil their water for the next 48 hours to ensure safety.

The strain on the water system, trying to cope with firefighting needs, has led to a significant decrease in water pressure and quality, with heavy reliance on the water supply bringing it four times beyond its normal demand for over 15 hours, prompting Quiñones to call for widespread conservation across Los Angeles not just in the Palisades area because the fire department requires ample water to combat the ongoing blazes, which as of now has resulted in over 1,000 homes being destroyed, as stated by KTLA.

Simultaneously, the City of Pasadena has issued a more severe Do-Not-Drink Water alert for areas impacted by the Eaton Fire, including zones under evacuation orders. Pasadena Water and Power attribute the advisory to the presence of "debris and elevated turbidity" in the water supply. Officials strongly advise against attempting to treat the water at home and instead recommend the exclusive use of bottled water. This alert is inclusive of its application to pets and household animals. The City of Pasadena communicated on X that they will update residents when the water is deemed safe again, though an exact timeline for resolution remains uncertain due to the dynamic fire and weather conditions, as relayed by NBC Los Angeles.