Three Altadena Water Companies Face “Significant Damage” Following Wildfires

Three mutual water agencies serving the Altadena area – Rubio, Lincoln, and Los Flores Water Companies – sustained significant infrastructure damage during January’s Eaton Fire, County officials said during Monday’s Altadena community meeting.

The damage affects the companies’ drinking water supply and fire suppression capabilities are affected.

“We’ve had formal discussions with all three mutual water Districts and have come to learn that they have significant damage to their systems,” reported Mark Pestrella, Director of Los Angeles County Public Works during the meeting.

“Currently they are assessing those systems and they are governed by the State of California. [The] State Water Board has been notified and the State Water Board is working with all three agencies to understand what it will take to get them back up and running.”

The restoration of both drinking water and fire suppression systems is clearly critical for home occupancy in affected areas being repopulated.

“We have multiple task forces set up to conduct this recovery. It’s a whole of government recovery,” said an official. “Teams … have engaged the Water Districts and are working with them to understand the damages and also to support their recovery.”

County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said her office has been actively reaching out to help the water companies and to fully understand their situations while coordinating with state authorities on what officials described as “a very large repair program for all three agencies.”