Crews making progress repairing massive water main break in West Hollywood
ByMadison WeilandSid Garcia
Friday, July 17, 2026 11:29PM
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) –Cleanup and repairs continued Friday after a massive water main break flooded parts of West Hollywood, but crews are making progress
Surveillance video obtained by Eyewitness News captured the moment the water main ruptured just after 3 a.m. Thursday. Footage from Dialog Cafe near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive shows water suddenly bursting from the ground before streets in the area were overwhelmed by fast-moving water
Crews remained at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive Friday morning, where they were working to repair a large sinkhole that formed after a 36-inch steel water pipe burst
According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, workers finished draining the 0.7-mile-long section of the pipe as well as the area surrounding the pipe break
“About 195,000 gallons of water were removed from the repair site to begin the complex work, including excavation, shoring for safety and beginning work to cut and remove a 25-foot section of damaged pipe,” LADWP said in a statement
Repairs were expected to take time before a portion of Sunset Boulevard could reopen to traffic
Sunset Boulevard remains closed with the area reduced to the section between Sherbourne Drive and San Vicente Boulevard. Other nearby streets are also closed
“It’s a huge disruption, obviously,” said one West Hollywood resident. “Our water pressure is impacted in our apartment, but the streets are blocked off, so it’s tough to get around.”
Eyewitness News learned the pipe that broke was about 110 years old. An infrastructure improvement project had been scheduled for 2031 and was expected to be completed by 2035
LADWP said the full project includes replacing nearly 10 miles of water pipe
“While repairs to the damaged 25-foot section are being completed now, LADWP will continue moving forward with the long-term replacement plan,” the agency said
The break triggered widespread flooding in the area Thursday morning, with homes inundated and hundreds of vehicles damaged after underground parking garages filled with water. One person was temporarily swept away in the fast-moving floodwaters
Residents described a chaotic and frightening scene as the water surged through the neighborhood
“I thought this was an earthquake of some sort, a maybe a natural catastrophe,” said Tehran Von Ghasri, a West Hollywood property owner. “I didn’t imagine this was going to be a water main break, especially with the noises and the flooding.”
“I’ve never experienced this before in the neighborhood, like a complete halt … gridlock,” said West Hollywood resident Ikill Orion. “You would think it was a hurricane or earthquake or something like that.”
Same street, new blowout
As crews responded, ABC7 helicopter reporter Scott Reiff recalled covering another significant water infrastructure failure on Sunset Boulevard more than a decade ago
It happened on July 30, 2014, in Westwood near the UCLA campus, where a water main break erupted in the middle of Sunset Boulevard. Video from the ABC7 archives shows the high-pressure break sending a massive geyser of water into the air as floodwaters rushed down Sunset Boulevard and onto the UCLA campus
As crews responded to a major water main break in West Hollywood, ABC7 helicopter reporter Scott Reiff recalled covering another significant water infrastructure failure on Sunset Boulevard more than a decade ago.
The flooding inundated parking garages and athletic fields, creating dramatic scenes that were captured from the air. With the water receded, residents on Palm Avenue spent Friday shoveling mud and debris from flood-damaged properties
“Yesterday was the spectacle,” said Ken Alan, whose building was affected by the flooding. “It was the waterfall, it was a man-made river. Today is the aftermath.”
Alan said an underground parking area filled completely with water. Meantime, resident Arnie Perras said two of his vehicles were lost in the flooding. Another parking garage on Hancock Avenue that housed about 50 vehicles was also inundated during the flooding
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has not confirmed when repairs will be completed
LADWP officials said drinking water remains safe, though some nearby buildings are experiencing low water pressure. The mayor has asked residents and businesses near the break to conserve water while repairs continue
Officials said anyone with property or vehicle damage can file a claim through LADWP at ladwp.com/claims
LADWP claims staff will be available to assist Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 1010 Palm Ave. They’ll be able to answer any questions about property damage and claims
Additional updates could be provided during a press conference expected later Friday morning
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