< The Latest 2025-01-21T14:59:52+0000
The Pasadena Star-News | Mon 01/20 04:02pm PST | Donna Littlejohn
Drinking water advisories remained in place as of Monday, Jan. 20, as another red flag wind alert returned and wildfires continued to burn in Los Angeles County.
A spokesperson for the L.A. Department of Water and Power said water continues to be tested daily for safe drinking use and that the caution remains in the Pacific Palisades area. And Pasadena Water and Power officials on Monday extended the Do-Not-Drink-Water Notice due to facilities that were affected by the Eaton Fire.
“A Do-Not-Drink notice remains in effect for Pacific Palisades Zip Code 90272, and adjacent communities in the LADWP service area immediately south of the 90272 zip code that are north of San Vicente Blvd.,” the website stated as of Jan. 20.
The updated news release on the department’s website also noted that water pressure to the Palisades area is “fully restored and the three, 1-million-gallon tanks serving the higher elevations are refilled and serving the community.”
The department has 19 water tankers deployed to support the firefighting efforts, the release stated.
DWP customers who want to check the safety of their drinking water can do so by entering their address in the interactive map found on the website at LADWP.com/. There currently is no estimate as to when the water will be safe to drink in those areas.
Impacted customers also may pick up bottled water provided by LADWP. Residents can find a list of bottled water pickup locations in those areas still under the do-not-drink advisory at ladwpnews.com/bottled-water-info.
Pasadena Water and Power officials said that with continued urgent repair of impacted facilities, along with “systematic extensive testing confirming drinking water quality in remaining impacted areas,” the Do-Not-Drink-Water Notice would be extended.
First issued Jan. 8, the PWP and the State Water Resources Control Board have further confirmed safe drinking water quality in additional areas previously under the notice. An updated map of impacted areas can be found at PWPweb.com/WaterNotice.
“As PWP has its own operations and construction crews, along with its own certified water quality lab, PWP continues to quickly bring back online impacted facilities and perform subsequent water quality testing, confirming safe drinking water in those areas,” officials said in a statement.
Officials advised not to drink or cook with tap water. Attempting to treat, boil, freeze, filter or add chlorine or other disinfectants to the water will not make it safe to drink.
Safety tips when showering with the water in the identified impacted areas can be found on the PWP’s website.
“The update to the Do-Not-Drink-Water Notice reflects a further reduction of impacted PWP water accounts to approximately 4% of service connections impacted. PWP is committed to providing safe, reliable drinking water for all customers,” officials said.
PWP water crews are working to confirm the safety of the drinking water for impacted customers who remain under the Do-Not-Drink-Water Notice.
A lift date regarding the notice was not immediately available.
Meanwhile, Heal the Bay has also issued cautions for the public, saying runoff sediment and ashes are impacting ocean waters as well.
On its website, the nonprofit advised as of Jan. 17 that county beaches were closed in the fire zones.
“There is no public access to any L.A. County beaches in the fire or evacuation zones, roughly north of the Santa Monica Pier to County Line,” the website states.
Beaches from Malibu’s Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler State Beach near LAX were under a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advisory warning residents to avoid water contact at any of those beaches, the county advisory said.
“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is extending the duration of the Ocean Water Advisory due to fire debris runoff,” the most recent county health post from Jan. 17 reads. “Ash from the Los Angeles Fires may enter coastal water through surface water runoff and windblown ash. The ash may contain substances including arsenic, other metals, and asbestos, which can be harmful to human health.”
Updated information on beach and ocean conditions also is available 24-hours a day on the county’s recorded beach closure hotline: (800) 525-5662.
City News Service contributed to this report