LADWP dashboard shows progress on Pacific Palisades water restoration

Residents of Pacific Palisades who have been unable to use their tap water safely due to carcinogenic contamination now have a new resource to monitor progress as officials work to restore water quality.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has created an online dashboard allowing affected residents to track water quality restoration efforts in their neighborhood zones. Most Pacific Palisades communities have been under a "do not drink" order since Jan. 10, when LADWP advised residents to avoid drinking tap water or using it for specific purposes.

The advisory was issued three days after the start of the Palisades fire as a precautionary measure due to concerns about benzene contamination. Benzene – a carcinogen found in gasoline, paint, and wildfire smoke – was detected in the water distribution system.

Recent testing revealed more than a dozen volatile organic compounds in the water supply traced to one specific neighborhood. LADWP officials have not disclosed which neighborhood is the source of the contamination but said they are working to clean the system in that area.

On Feb. 25, the utility lifted the "do not drink" notice for customers east of Temescal Canyon Road and south of Bestor Boulevard, allowing an estimated 2,000 structures to resume normal water use.

The newly launched Palisades Water Quality Restoration Dashboard details the plan to flush contaminants from the system and provides a map of the affected areas. The dashboard includes a chart showing the restoration status for nine affected zones within the community.

To use the dashboard, residents can enter their addresses on the "do not drink notice areas - map" tab of the website. After entering an address, users can identify their service zone and click on the corresponding zone to view current testing results and progress updates.

The dashboard uses color-coded checkmarks to indicate progress: green checkmarks show completed restoration steps, while blue checkmarks indicate work in progress. LADWP officials stated the dashboard will be updated as progress is made, though there is no fixed update schedule.

When a zone is cleared of contaminants, a green checkmark will appear next to "lift do not drink notice" on the progress chart. LADWP will also notify customers through email, door-to-door notifications, prerecorded phone messages, local signage, and social media channels.

Once the notice is lifted for a particular zone, residents must flush their water system before using it. The utility recommends a detailed flushing process that includes removing aerators and screens from faucets, running external fixtures for about 10 minutes, flushing all cold-water faucets beginning with the one closest to the water line, draining hot water tanks, and running empty cycles on dishwashers and washing machines.

While the "do not drink" notice remains in effect for most residents, LADWP has provided guidelines for acceptable and prohibited uses of tap water. Residents may use cold water to wash clothes, take lukewarm showers, and wash hands with soap. However, they should not attempt to treat the water themselves, use it for food preparation or cooking, wash pets, use hot tubs or swimming pools, or hand-wash dishes.

LADWP distributes free bottled water for affected residents at four locations: Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real Dr., Pacific Palisades; Rustic Canyon Recreation Center, 601 Latimer Rd., Santa Monica; LADWP Trailer Facility, 16701 Calle Arbolada, Pacific Palisades; and Calvary Church, 701 N. Palisades Dr., Pacific Palisades. All distribution centers are open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents can contact LADWP at (800) 342-5397.