Some West Hollywood residents who were affected by last month’s water main break remain living in hotels due to continued impacts. Alex Rozier reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
Although the water main break that shut down one of West Hollywood’s busiest streets was repaired last month, some homes that were affected by the incident remain unlivable
A massive water main break ushered residents along Sunset Boulevard out of their homes last month as it flooded nearby roads with 17 million gallons of water. The disaster created a sinkhole in the immediate area and floodwaters damaged sidewalks, underground parking garages and businesses
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After about a week of nonstop work, crews were able to fix the water line and reopen streets on July 24. Nearly a month later, however, some residents are still unable to return home
West HollywoodJul 24
Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood reopens after a week-long closure
West HollywoodJul 22
LADWP working to repair pinhole-sized leak near West Hollywood water pipe
One resident named Tony, who asked not to share his last name, said the last month for him has been stressful and expensive. Two of his cars were totaled when the water main flooded his parking garage, and he said he’s been staying in a hotel for 29 days since his complex is uninhabitable
“I just want to go home,” he said. “I just want to sleep in my own bed. I just want to resume my life, but there are too many obstacles right now.”
Up the road, Dialog Café also experienced extensive damage
“We’ve realized now that this location will take probably a year, maybe over a year, to rebuild,” said Narbeh Gahzalian, who co-owns the café
Both Gahzalian and Tony said they filed claims with their respective insurances and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Commuters are starting to travel on Sunset Boulevard after a major water main break in West Hollywood. Annette Arreola reports for the NBC4 News at 6 a.m. on July 27, 2026.
“One of the things that’s underestimated is how long it takes to go through the claims process,” Gahzalian said. “Like it’s a full-time job in itself.”
LADWP said it received 98 claims following the water main break. It said in a statement:
“LADWP’s goal is to reach a final decision on a claim within 30-45 days. The length of the claim process varies depending on the complexity of each individual claim, so timelines can differ case by case.”
For information on how to file a claim with the department, click here
