EDITOR’S NOTE: Serious water main “blowouts” at more than a dozen points around LA in recent days have raised questions about the causes and whether the DWP has properly maintained the vast network of pipes in the city. Warren Olney on his KCRW show “WHICH WAY LA?” discussed the issue Wednesday with Ron Kaye and others. Here is an excerpt whichwayla.mp3
By Chelsea Cody.
OurLA News Director
The head of DWP water operations, James McDaniel, has assured the Board of
Water and Power Commissioners about the recent water main breaks in the
city of Los Angeles this month.
McDaniel acknowledged the number of serious water main breaks has jumped sharply from 13 in September 2006 to 17 a year later to 21 last year and is likely to hit 30 this month.
But he said the overall number of pipeline breaks in the city this month is within a normal range when compared to those that occurred during recent years.
There are about 1400 leaks throughout the city each year, which breaks down to roughly 4 leaks a day, a number that is well below the average number of leaks in similar sized average
systems across the country.
He did not, however, discuss the difference in age between these systems, nor the level of comparative upkeep and it’s role in these statistics.
About four times a week large breaks occur that cause the kind of damage seen when the trunk line burst on Coldwater Canyon earlier this month.
McDaniel admitted there has been an increase in these larger breaks over the past three months and although the DWP has yet to “nail down” the causes for these breaks, they are not beyond the capabilities of DWP to handle them.
The replacements proposed by McDaniel and the DWP have been budgeted at $1.3 billion over the next five years for water quality related infrastructure and $1.4 billion for general infrastructure replacement.
Much of the DWP’s analysis presented by McDaniels is based on a study conducted twelve years ago.
Will IBEW chief or the employees who make 40% more because of their “specialized” skills lose their jobs? No. It is the idiot Mayor and City Council who granted that who should.
Come on, give me a break. What about focusing on preventative maintenance and proactive planning? After all the DWP was reactive in 1993 and 1997 and then promised to work on replacing the aging pipelines.
And after the transformer failures in 2007, the DWP promised infrastructure upgrades for the Power side.
Now the Mayor and his developer friends are overloading this aging infrastructure with high density over-development and at the same time diverting ratepayer funds away from the upgrades and back to his cronies.
As I listen to Mr. McDaniels, I am reminded of the old phrase–there are lies, damn lies and statistics.I think the more apt analogy would be the chickens have come home to roost.
Ron: I just listened to the Which Way LA segment. You were very good. It was nice to hear the other guest honor your knowledge of DWP and agree with you regarding transparency or lack of and how that affects citizens confidence or lack of in DWP when they seek rate hikes and promise solutions which they haven’t delivered in at least 16 years.
We need to watch out for Freeman. He was at the helm during the last round of pipe breakages and promised solutions which weren’t delivered. Even if he criticizes DWP now, that doesn’t mean he will be able to deliver. Especially at his age.
I am amazed that City Hall is asking for answers to the trunk line breakage tsunami. They pretend they don`t know. Come on!! They have let D`Arcy pilfer the DWP `s coffers for years to provide scandalous wages and benefits to his troops, and in return they have received millions of dollars in contributions. One hand washes the other. Of course they do it also in Chicago. However,with one exception. There are benefits to their citizens also.
Homeowners’ in the Valley have had busted irrigation valves and pipes. Many have questioned if the Monday and Thursday deal has caused this, or if the City upped the pressure or cannot control the irregular flow due to compliant homeowners.
The homeowners are taxed dearly for their busted pipes. Most half acre plus properties have gone well beyond their tier one allotment. One busted valve can cost a month’s or two’s allotment that guarantees penalties.
The city profits from busted homeowners’ pipes. My guess is those same homeowners will pay dearly for the City’s busted water mains as well.
Thank you, Ron, for asking where the money went. I find their pricing to repair outrageous. I’d be curious if we could get some quotes from private parties on this.
The present inflated water rate (tax) would still be in place regardless of the squandered (laundered?) funds and broken mains. However, given the City’s mismanagement of those funds, I fear these proposed new taxes (higher electric and water rates) will be coming sooner than later to fix what should never have been broken and, certainly, what the existing penalties should already cover.
I agree with you that a rate payer advocate is needed. My concern, however, is that this individual can never be independent and may very well become another political pawn at the people’s expense.
Nice job, Chelsea.
The root of this problem is a lack of accountability. In the old days people were held accountable–the expression “heads will roll” would be apropos. Managers like McDaniels are exempt from Civil Service protection. That was done so that they could be held accountable.
The Mayor through his commissioners can take decisive action and relieve Mr. McDaniels and tell his replacement to get off the pot and take care of this problem. While some are focused on Union level people, they lose sight of the Managers who show poor leadership qualities by making excuses and saying how great everything is.
This is a real upside-down world where failure is rewarded!
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