A water pipe more than a century old burst overnight in Los Angeles, flooding one of the city’s busiest areas and causing severe traffic disruptions.
The incident was reported in West Hollywood, where a main steel pipe built in 1916 burst beneath a busy street. Large amounts of water surfaced from the line, which is part of the main system supplying Los Angeles’ water network from dams and reservoirs.
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The flooding hit the Sunset Strip, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, home to numerous restaurants, bars and businesses. Water damaged several premises, while some streets were temporarily closed, significantly worsening traffic.
Among the affected businesses is the well-known Dialog Cafe restaurant, which announced a temporary closure due to “significant damage” caused by the flooding. The venue’s management said it was still unable to determine when it would reopen.
Meanwhile, local authorities have begun work to secure the area, assess the damage and repair the pipe. So far, the cause of the rupture has not been determined.
Officials estimate that higher water pressure overnight may have been one of the contributing factors. According to them, when residents are asleep and water consumption drops significantly, pressure in the pipes can increase, making ruptures more likely. “When people are asleep and water use is lower, pressure in the pipes can increase, and these ruptures often occur then,” authorities explained.
The water utility had planned for the main Sunset segment to be replaced in 2031. Data from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power show that, in 2019, around 29% of the city’s pipelines were over 80 years old and nearing the end of their typical lifespan of about 100 years.
Authorities urged residents and drivers to remain patient as crews continue working to repair the damage and restore normal conditions.
