LADWP to Replace Floating Cover at Santa Ynez Reservoir to Maintain Water Quality and Prevent Longer, Unplanned Outages

LOS ANGELES (January 29, 2026) - The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is moving forward with the replacement of the floating cover on the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which stores drinking water for the Pacific Palisades and must remain covered to meet drinking water regulations. The 15-year-old cover, which spans approximately 10 acres, has sustained damage over its service life and remains vulnerable to further deterioration. While emergency repairs made following the Palisades wildfire allowed the reservoir to resume normal operations, installing a new cover now will reduce the risk of an unplanned outage, if the cover tears again, and protect water quality.

Preparations for the replacement have included securing a design team and contractor, fabricating the cover, establishing contingency measures, and providing community notifications, such as co-hosting a virtual town hall in partnership with Council District 11 on January 14. Water service to LADWP customers will not be interrupted during this project. LADWP will continue to supply water to the Pacific Palisades community through the Westgate Trunk Line while the reservoir is out of service and has additional measures in place to supply water in the event of an emergency.

In the event of an emergency, LADWP is prepared to maintain a level of water service through added contingencies including:

• having hoses and connections readily available to be installed on Sunset Boulevard in the event of a service disruption to Westgate Trunk Line;
• deploying six miles of hose with booster pumps to move water from Corbin Tank to Temescal Tank if there is a service disruption;
• positioning emergency generators in the Pacific Palisades to keep critical water equipment running during a power outage;
• increasing brush clearing around LADWP facilities to reduce fire risk and maintain operations during construction;
• stationing water tankers in the community and at Stone Canyon Reservoir for additional water supply during construction; and,
• ensuring aerial-firefighting water sources remain available, including the Santa Ynez heli-hydrant, Palisades Reservoir cistern, and additional supplies at the Encino and Stone Canyon open-air reservoirs.

LADWP expects to begin draining the Santa Ynez Reservoir in February, which is estimated to take one month. When the reservoir is drained, crews will dismantle the existing cover and install a new floating cover and liner system. The project also includes upgrades to the floating cover and associated mechanical equipment, and inspection and testing of the new system. Construction is expected to be completed, and the reservoir returned to service, in Fall 2026. Proactive replacement is necessary to protect drinking water quality, maintain compliance with state and federal water quality regulations, and avoid an unexpected failure that could force the reservoir out of service for a longer period.

"By replacing the cover now, we are able to ensure that the Santa Ynez Reservoir is refilled and returned to service as quickly as possible and avoid an unplanned outage if the damaged cover were to fail again," said Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager - Water System. "The upcoming cover replacement project will enable LADWP to maintain the integrity and viability of this facility so our customers can continue to receive safe and reliable drinking water. The new cover will allow us time to engineer and design a long-term permanent solution to protecting water quality and providing greater resilience for the community."

LADWP is currently evaluating long-term options for the Santa Ynez Reservoir. These alternatives include tank storage, a water treatment facility, or other engineered solutions that would support the system's needs well into the future. While the floating cover remains a proven system that meets all water quality and regulatory standards, these long-term options offer added durability and operational flexibility. Each alternative is being evaluated for constructability, operational ease, and cost effectiveness. A recommendation is expected by mid-2026.

For more information and updates on the Santa Ynez Reservoir Cover replacement project, please visit LADWP.com/SantaYnezReservoirCover.

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