Thousands without water in Porter Ranch, Granada Hills: DWP

Thousands without water in San Fernando Valley

Thousands remain without water as the San Fernando Valley braces for triple-digit temperatures.

LOS ANGELES - More than 9,000 people in the San Fernando Valley are without water after a valve at a Los Angeles water pump station failed. Repairs are not expected to finish for days.

An emergency repair at a local pump station will cause water service disruptions for approximately 9,200 Los Angeles customers in the Granada Hills and Porter Ranch areas, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) warns.

What we know:

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power warned customers in Granada Hills and Porter Ranch of expected water service disruptions on Tuesday.

The affected area is bounded by Rinaldi Avenue on the south, Balboa Boulevard on the east, De Soto Avenue on the west, and the foothills and hills to the north. 

A valve that controls water flow failed to open on Tuesday while crews were making repairs at a pump station that connects to a 10-million-gallon water tank. This failure resulted in the cutoff of water to the pipes.

When will the water be back on?

What's next:

For now, LADWP crews are working to divert water from another supply to help refill the affected tank. At a press conference on Tuesday, LADWP CEO Janisse Quiñones said that "If they are successful, we may be able to restore water service in the next 24 to 48 hours to the whole area."

Repairing the broken line, however, may prove to be more difficult. As crews are working to get to the line, which is more than 20 feet underground, Quiñones said they've found several oil and gas lines standing in their way, and that workers can't use heavy equipment until they clear those lines. Once they do, Quiñones said it would take up to 16 hours for workers to shore up the area enough for them to begin repairs. Repairs could continue through the weekend.

The DWP is coordinating with the Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Police Department to help those affected get water in the meantime. The DWP has set up water distribution locations at Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park in Northridge, O'Melveny Park in Granada Hills, and at the intersection of Tampa Avenue and Sesnon Boulevard. Those locations will also have portable showers, laundry units, hand washing stations and portable toilets.

Boil Water Advisory

What you can do:

Officials say anyone in the outage area should only use boiled tap water or bottled water for cooking and drinking until further notice.

"Even if you have water in there, [we] ask you to boil the water," Quiñones said. "If you're going to use it to drink, cook, make ice, prepare food or brush your teeth."

What they're saying:

"The safety of our customers and the community is our top priority as we work quickly to make repairs and resupply water," the DWP said. "LADWP is coordinating with the LA Fire Department to develop a water supply contingency plan for the area, including providing water tankers while this work is in progress, and is also coordinating with LAPD."

What's next:

The DWP is urging customers in the area to conserve as much water as possible for the next 24 hours. They recommend turning off sprinklers, washing machines, and dishwashers to help maintain water pressure and supply.

Big picture view:

The water service outage occurred amid a growing heat wave that is expected to peak on Thursday, with many valley areas reaching triple-digits.

RELATED: Southern California braces for hottest weather of the summer

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday is expected to bring the peak heat, with temperatures around 104 degrees in warmer valley areas and as high as 106 degrees in the Antelope Valley. Metro areas are likely to be in the 80s and 90s, forecasters said. 

Hot temperatures will linger into Friday, with a cooldown expected by Saturday.