Mayor Bass and Councilmember Monica Rodriguez Join LADWP Leadership to Celebrate Major Seismic Water Infrastructure Milestone in the San Fernando Valley

The Foothill Trunk Line, the nation's longest large-diameter ERDIP installation, reaches milestone as part of a decade-long citywide commitment to replacing and upgrading its water infrastructure with earthquake resilient pipe

LOS ANGELES (August 27, 2026) - Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Monica Rodriguez (Council District 7), President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners Allan Marks, and Interim LADWP General Manager David W. Hanson gathered at LADWP's Sylmar WEST training facility to celebrate the full installation of the largest and longest large-diameter Earthquake Resistant Ductile Iron Pipe (ERDIP) in the nation. As part of the Foothill Trunk Line project, crews installed more than 22,000 feet or approximately 4 miles of seismic drinking water pipe designed to withstand earthquakes and help ensure long-term water reliability. The final trenchless tunneling phase will proceed over the coming year, with full project completion expected by 2032.

"This historic project is an example of the critical, proactive infrastructure work that is happening behind the scenes, but that makes a real difference for Angelenos," said Mayor Bass. "This project means more reliable water service, better water quality, and resilient infrastructure built to serve Angelenos for decades to come. For too long, Los Angeles has waited for infrastructure to fail before fixing it, and we are changing that and building for the future."

"Upgrading our City's water infrastructure is a matter of public safety and equity for all Angelenos," said Councilmember Monica Rodriguez. "For decades, our communities relied on aging pipelines built in the 1930s. By securing this record-setting investment in earthquake-resilient infrastructure right here in Council District 7, we are protecting our neighborhoods from seismic risks, ensuring our first responders have the water they need in a crisis and guaranteeing reliable service for generations of Valley families to come."

"Replacing century-old water infrastructure is a major undertaking, but it's essential to maintaining a world-class system here in Los Angeles," said Allan Marks, President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. "We're modernizing key components and building new facilities to ensure LADWP delivers reliable, affordable, high-quality water to our communities. This includes installing earthquake-resistant pipelines and updated infrastructure, implementing smart monitoring systems, and expanding local water supplies through groundwater cleanup, stormwater capture, and recycled water."

Today's milestone is part of LADWP's ongoing capital infrastructure plan, launched over a decade ago to prioritize system resiliency and reliability. After initial ERDIP testing in 2013, LADWP pioneered one of the nation's first ERDIP pilot deployments at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, near the epicenter of the 1994 earthquake. This installation demonstrated that flexible joints could protect vital community assets during severe ground movement, laying the foundation for a citywide strategy that continues to expand.

The strategic deployment of ERDIP applies to both proactive replacement and long-term master planning following major incidents. For example, following the trunk line break in West Hollywood last month, emergency repairs were completed immediately, while design plans continued for comprehensive multi-mile permanent replacement using earthquake resilient pipe.

Since the ERP program began in fiscal year 2012-2013, LADWP has installed 67.2 miles of ERP mainline and trunk line pipes (43.2 miles of mainline and 23.9 miles for trunk line), with more projects planned at strategic locations throughout the city. In the 2025-2026 fiscal year alone, crews installed over 3,700 feet of trunk line pipe and over 244,000 ft of mainline pipe.

"Our promise to the community is straightforward: dependable, high-quality water, day in and day out," said David W. Hanson, LADWP's Interim General Manager. "Over 20 years, we've nearly tripled our annual mainline pipe replacement to 240,000 feet per year, including more than 41,000 feet of earthquake resilient pipe. These upgrades strengthen reliability and the numbers speak for themselves. LADWP's water leak rate is half the national average and ahead of any of our peers across the country. We are very proud of this accomplishment and intend to get even better over the years."

Originally installed nearly a century ago, aging distribution and trunk lines across the city are being systematically replaced to ensure safe, reliable water delivery. Because the San Fernando Valley sits near major active fault zones, deploying ERP to the area is a top strategic priority.

Placing earthquake resilient pipe in critical areas across the service territory-particularly in the San Fernando Valley-will strengthen the system's ability to withstand seismic events. With these key areas protected, LADWP water crews can focus on smaller pipe repairs, helping speed up water restoration for residents when it matters most.

###

VIEW AND DOWNLOAD PHOTOS FROM ERDIP PRESS EVENT