Department of Water and Power crews have made “significant progress” replacing the broken section of a 110-year-old water pipe that sent 17 million gallons of water into the streets of West Hollywood, but a major section of Sunset Boulevard might not be open in time for Monday morning’s commute, officials said Sunday.
The new section of pipe arrived Friday morning and was installed Saturday. Workers cut and removed a 25-foot-long piece of ruptured pipe and set the replacement segment into place, with welders working overnight to put in the new 3-foot diameter steel pipe.
“With the replacement section in place, the pipe has been refilled and repressurization is underway,” the utility said in its latest update at 11 a.m. Sunday. “During this process, crews are conducting further excavation to locate and seal any leaks, ensuring that all repairs meet the highest safety and regulatory standards. … When the repairs are finalized, our water quality team will disinfect the pipe with chlorine and perform water-quality testing to ensure full regulatory compliance. Once testing is complete, the water will be dechlorinated and safely released to the storm drain system.
“The final step in this complex, multi-step incident is to backfill the trench and repave the street using materials and standards required by the city of West Hollywood.”
Sunset Boulevard remains closed between Sherbourne Drive and San Vicente Boulevard, with limited local access on nearby streets including Cynthia and San Vicente.
There is no set completion date, but the DWP said crews “remain dedicated to finishing the repairs as quickly and safely as possible.”
The DWP is working with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Los Angeles County Public Works and other utilities to protect underground infrastructure during the repairs.
The utility said customers in the area continue to have reliable drinking water, but are being asked to continue conservation practices because the area is receiving water through an 8-inch pipe.
“With the 36-inch transmission line undergoing repairs, our system is relying on alternate 8-inch distribution pipelines to supply the neighborhood’s daily needs. As a result, residents-particularly those living on upper floors-may experience lower water pressure during peak demand. If you encounter any water supply concerns, please call 1-800-DIAL-DWP for immediate assistance,” the statement added.
Some businesses in the area remain closed, including Book Soup, and many residents suffered property damage in the disaster.
The route for Sunday’s CicLAvia closed-streets event was shortened through West Hollywood due to the water main break. The western end of the 6.1-mile free event, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., was shifted to North La Cienega Boulevard at Santa Monica Boulevard. The route continued east through Hollywood to North La Brea Avenue.
A section of the circa-1916 water main broke open at 3 a.m. Thursday on Sunset Boulevard at Holloway Drive, pushing around cars and flooding garages while shifting massive chunks of asphalt and concrete slab. A number of vehicles were visibly damaged and others were flooded nearly to their roofs in subterranean parking.
By 7 a.m., the rushing water, which pushed around parked cars and sent debris all the way to Santa Monica Boulevard, had been stopped.
“This is a big break,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Aaron Katon told City News Service. “We have a lot of old pipes in this area. But a break this big is exceedingly rare.”
Katon said the first priority was ensuring everyone was safe, with first responders going door to door in the affected area. The next priority, he said, was protecting property, pumping out water and helping businesses reopen.
Dialog Cafe, at the corner of Palm Avenue and Holloway Drive, which is known for its breakfast burritos and wraps, has announced plans to close indefinitely due to water damage from the rupture, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Customers with questions may call 1-800-DIAL-DWP. Claims information is available at LADWP.com/Claims.
The city of West Hollywood also launched a website with regularly updated information about the response and recovery effort. The site, weho.org/watermainbreak, includes repair updates, street closures, traffic information, Metro detours, parking enforcement changes, claims information, hotel discounts for affected residents and other resources.
Officials said the 10-mile Sunset Trunk Line that ruptured had already been designated for replacement. The department said design work is underway on a project to replace nearly 6.4 miles of large-diameter pipeline and 3.5 miles of distribution pipe, with construction expected to begin in 2031.
The utility said it replaced more than 246,000 feet of water pipeline during 2024 and 2025 and is on track to replace another 246,000 feet this year. The department also said its leak rate is 36% below the national average, averaging 16.1 leaks per 100 miles of pipe compared with 25 leaks per 100 miles nationwide.
The specific cause of Thursday’s break was under investigation, but Anselmo G. Collins, the DWP’s chief operating officer and senior assistant general manager of the water system, said pressure in water delivery lines is highest at night when demand drops.