LOS ANGELES, CA – A water main break sent a large spout of water into the air and flooded streets in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews had the water shut off by 2:45 p.m.
The break was first reported just after 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in the area of Vanalden Avenue and Kenya Street. Water from the broken main flooded the surrounding streets.
The water rose as high as the treetops. Drivers nearby pulled over to watch the spout.
There were also reports of asphalt shooting high into the sky. According to initial reports, the water was seen exploding out of a manhole.
Crews respond to Vanalden Avenue
Personnel from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, known as LADWP, were seen responding to the scene. The utility is the agency that maintains the city’s water pipes.
The water was still flowing at about 2:37 p.m., according to initial reports, while crews worked to slow it. By 2:45 p.m., the flow had been shut off.
Mud, debris and a hole in the street
The water did not appear to make it into any homes. It did, however, leave a considerable mess on Vanalden Avenue.
Mud and debris were seen filling the street after the break. A large hole was also seen in the pavement at the spot where the water main broke.
LADWP’s water system and leak record
LADWP’s own resiliency and reliability page says the utility “maintains a vast water system with about 7,340 miles of mainlines and trunk lines.” The Porter Ranch break is one failure in that network.
The same page says LADWP averaged 16.1 leaks per 100 miles of pipes in fiscal year 2024-25. The page says that rate is 36% below the national industry average of 25 leaks per 100 miles.
The page also says LADWP is upgrading water distribution through an $8 billion five-year water capital plan.
LADWP’s news site also publishes a Trunk Line Info page about the utility’s large water trunk lines. LADWP had not said what size or type of pipe failed in Porter Ranch.
Cause and repair timeline pending
LADWP had not released the cause of the break, how many customers were affected or when repairs to the street would be completed. The break was shut off Thursday afternoon, and the large hole remained visible at the site on Vanalden Avenue.
