Media Contact: Nina Jazmadarian, general manager, nina.jaz@fmwd.com
Altadena communities suffer major damage to local
reservoirs, water systems
Local water agencies working together to get systems online, ensure water safety
and service for residents, businesses
ALTADENA – With the Eaton Fire devastating Altadena communities and causing severe
damage to seven reservoirs and thousands of residential water service connections, local water
agencies are working around the clock to assess their systems and restore water service to about
30,000 impacted residents.
“Do Not Drink” orders continue to be in place for Kinneloa Irrigation District, Lincoln Ave
Water Company, Las Flores Water Company and Rubio Cañon Land & Water Association,
Foothill Municipal Water District’s retail agencies serving Altadena that suffered the most
devastating impacts due to the Eaton Fire.
“We are still working on assessing the full extent of the damage putting some immediate fixes
and temporary solutions in place to make these water systems safe enough so that evacuees can
return to their homes as quickly as possible,” said Foothill Municipal Water District General
Manager Nina Jazmadarian.
Once the temporary repairs are complete, Foothill will work with the state’s Division of Drinking
Water to test and treat the water to ensure we are protecting public health, she added.
As evacuated communities are repopulated, Foothill is also working with Los Angeles County
Fire to provide information to residents on the status of their water service. Returning residents
may not have water service connected, and those who do may still be under Do Not Drink
orders.
Overview of initial damage assessments:
• Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association – serves 9,600 people in central and eastern
portions of Altadena; 3,250 total water connections; approximately 700 water service
connections have been lost due to fire; 4 reservoirs are significantly damaged and need
major repairs.
• Las Flores Water Company – serves 4,500 people in North-Central Altadena; 1,480 total
connections; approximately 900 connections were lost due to fire; 2 reservoirs need
repair immediately.
• Lincoln Avenue Water Company – serves 16,000 people in western portions of Altadena;
4,500 total water connections; at least 2,500 connections lost due to fire; one reservoir
has been damaged.
• Kinneloa Irrigation District - serves approximately 1,950 people; 590 total connections;
approximately 50 connections were lost due to fire; Kinneloa’s primary supply, storage
and distribution system is undamaged, but the loss of utility power from Southern
California Edison requires the district to run exclusively on diesel backup generators at
its 7 pumping facilities to maintain operational status.
Foothill is a water wholesaler that receives water imported by the Metropolitan Water District
from the State Water Project and Colorado River. This water is then provided to seven water
utilities that serve the communities in the La Crescenta, La Cañada and Altadena Foothills. Most
of these water utilities rely on a combination of groundwater and imported water to meet
customer needs.
Foothill has been working closely with Metropolitan Water District to support the impacted local
water agencies that directly serve Altadena residents, including by providing adequate water
deliveries needed for firefighting purposes, as well as other support and supplies such as
generators, fuel, hazardous debris removal and repairs to maintain the pumps used by the retail
water agencies.
“I want to sincerely thank Metropolitan, CalFire, Los Angeles County Public Works and all of
our first responders for the extraordinary coordination to what has been an extremely difficult
time,” Jazmadarian said.
Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD or Foothill) incorporated on January 7, 1952 to help
meet the increased water needs of the rapidly growing foothill communities following the end of
World War II. Water leaders, and ultimately voters, saw the need to supplement local
groundwater with water imported by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(MWD). At that time, MWD delivered Colorado River water into the Southern California region
for about 10 years through its Colorado River Aqueduct. Since then, MWD also received water
from the California State Water Project in 1972. Foothill officially joined MWD in 1953 and
operates as one of its 26 member agencies.