Santa Ynez Reservoir to Be Drained Again

The Santa Ynez Reservoir is covered, but needs a new temporary replacement cover, while the agency works on a permanent cover.
Photo: DWP

The Santa Ynez Reservoir, which holds 117 million gallons of water and was originally constructed following the Bel Air Fires as source for fighting wildfires, will once again be drained sometime in 2026.

In January 2024, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), noticed a tear in the cover and drained the reservoir. It wasn’t until November 2024, 11 months later that a contract with the Layfield Group, the original installers and the only bidder on project, received the bid for $130,000.

That meant the reservoir was empty during the Palisades Fire in January 2025.

According to a 7 Eyewitness News Report, the total cost of repairs grew to about $261,000 by February 2025.

The reservoir was filled and then drained again in April because of additional repairs. https://www.ladwpnews.com/further-repairs-to-santa-ynez-reservoir-floating-cover-required/

Currently, the Santa Ynez Reservoir is filled to its normal operating level and has been back in service since June 25, 2025.

Now residents have been told it will be drained again.

DWP  Media spokesperson Christy Holland told CTN that “The original cover was repaired in 2022 and 2025. It is the same cover that is currently on the Santa Ynez Reservoir. The brand-new replacement floating cover, planned for 2026, is a temporary solution until a permanent solution is developed.”

The planned new floating cover will be temporary and there were no estimates of cost.

“DWP engineers are working on this, and more information will be shared with the community as their work progresses,” Holland said. “LADWP has placed an order for a new floating cover and is in the planning and procurement stages of the replacement project.”

Holland said, “The upcoming replacement cover is not reactive, but rather a proactive step we’re taking. We will be conducting public outreach regarding the project and contingency measures prior to the project beginning in early 2026.”

She added, “LADWP is working closely with City partners, including the Los Angeles Fire Department, to ensure redundant water supplies are available throughout the replacement project.”

DWP reassured residents that “Santa Ynez Reservoir will remain in service until the new cover is ready, the community is informed, the contractor is ready and contingency measures are in place.”

Ratepayers might like to know the cost of the “new” replacement cover. And residents might like to know the cost of the planned  six-mile 10-inch high pressure water line from Topanga to the Palisades to be used if there is a fire while the reservoir is empty and the replacement cover installed.

The lack of water in the reservoir made aerial operations from a hydrant at that site impossible for fire fighters on January 7, 2025. Water from the reservoir could have kept the major water line, the Westgate Truck Line operating with enough pressure to supply auxiliary lines and hydrants

In a CTN story click here Riana Basuel with the LADWP Media Relations Team was asked where the hydrant at the Santa Ynez Reservoir Complex (which was used  by LAFD and LACoFD, received water. She responded, “It is supplied by a distribution pipeline with water pumped from the Westgate Trunk Line via the Santa Ynez Pump Station.”

Basuel said, “To maintain proper water quality, Santa Ynez Reservoir is normally operated in an inflow/outflow cycle.  In this cyclic operation, you can think of the Reservoir roughly as a ‘turnaround’ point at the end of the Westgate Trunk Line. When the Reservoir is operating normally, water flows in from the Trunk Line over the course of several days until the Reservoir is filled.

“Once filled, the flow is reversed, with water from the Reservoir flowing back into the Trunk Line to supply the area,” she said. “Consequently, the Reservoir serves as a limited alternative supply from one end of the Trunk Line, while the line is otherwise fed from the opposite end by a supply that is effectively unlimited.”