L.A. firestorms recovery milestone: Safe drinking water restored for all impacted public water systems

LOS ANGELES – Marking a critical milestone in Los Angeles County’s recovery from January’s firestorms, the State Water Resources Control Board announced today that the final system of the nine impacted public water systems has been cleared to resume delivering safe, clean drinking water to customers.

The State Water Board worked closely with local water systems and emergency response agencies to ensure water quality and protect public health during and after the fires. Today, Las Flores Water Co. in Altadena lifted its notice — the last remaining do- not-drink / do-not-boil advisory for a fire-impacted system.

“After this year’s devastating L.A. firestorms, the state has been laser focused on helping communities recover and rebuild,” said Yana Garcia, California Secretary for Environmental Protection. “That includes bringing critical water infrastructure back online. Today’s milestone would not have been possible without the dedication and partnership between local systems and the State Water Board.”

The State Water Board issued each of the nine systems a formal order requiring benzene contamination screening throughout fire-impacted areas, public notification of a drinking water advisory and remediation of any contamination. Advisories remained in effect until DDW staff confirmed through comprehensive sampling and field verification that contaminant levels meet all state and federal regulatory requirements.

“Restoring drinking water service is one of the most vital steps in any disaster recovery,” said State Water Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “We commend the local water system operators and our dedicated Division of Drinking Water staff who worked tirelessly—often in dangerous and unpredictable conditions—to assess damage, test for contamination and restore safe service.”

During the wildfires, several water systems faced direct threats, including infrastructure damage, power outages, and possible contamination from smoke, ash or burned materials. The State Water Board was on the ground throughout the emergency, providing technical guidance, conducting site inspections, collecting samples, and coordinating with local and state emergency responders to bring systems back online safely. The board developed expertise and guidance during practical experience with previous wildfire responses and recoveries.

“The California Association of Mutual Water Companies appreciates the State Water Board’s diligent work in guiding the restoration of water service after our members in Altadena suffered so much damage during the Eaton firestorm,” said Karina Cervantes, managing director of CalMutuals. “The board and the professionals at the Division of Drinking Water capitalized on the resiliency and professionalism of our members and did much to restore public confidence by applying lessons from previous fire events around the state to safeguard public health. Better safe than sorry is the lesson of the day and we are thankful."

“On behalf of Lincoln Avenue Water Company’s Board of Directors, we wish to thank State Water Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel for personally and promptly surveying the aftermath of the Eaton Fire’s impact on or water systems in Altadena, and galvanizing resources to expedite our return to service for our community,” said Jennifer Betancourt Torres, general manager of the Lincoln Avenue Water Company. “Through patience and technical support from the board and its Division of Drinking Water staff, we are able to assure the community about the safety of our water supply sooner than many expected.”

The State Water Board will continue to support these water systems as they implement long-term recovery plans, including infrastructure repairs and system resiliency upgrades.

For more information about the State Water Board’s role in the wildfire recovery, visit the webpage.

The State Water Board’s mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper resource allocation and efficient use for present and future generations.