Infrastructure Past, Present, and Future Casebook/Santa Ynez Reservoir

Narrative of the Case

The Santa Ynez Reservoir is a 9.2-acre covered reservoir built in 1968 and after two years of construction, put into service in 1970¹. The Reservoir gets its name from the Santa Ynez Canyon which it was built from and provides water to the Pacific Palisades area for residential use including showers, drinking water, fire hydrants, etc. The Reservoir is managed by the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP)².

Due to an EPA health mandate, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began the installation of a reservoir cover in 2012, before then the reservoir remained uncovered since it’s construction in 1968.  

In January 2024, a LADWP property manager spotted a tear in the reservoir cover during a routine inspection. [Insert here about the requirements for responding to an issue]. The Department of Water and Power had planned to continue using the reservoir despite the tear, as tests indicated its water supply had not been contaminated. However, after criticism from the State Water Resources Control Board, a state agency responsible for preserving, enhancing, and restoring California's water resources and drinking water³, the DWP began draining the reservoir, a process which can take up to two months. The bid for the repair was announced in April 2024 and repair didn’t begin until late November 2024, 10 months after the problem had been discovered. By the time the fires came in January 2025, the repairs were not completed, and the Reservoir was empty. Due to the lengthy process of draining the reservoir, bureaucratic problem solving, and contract negotiations, the reservoir was not there to aid in combating the fires. It is very likely if the reservoir cover had been addressed and repaired sooner, much of the damage from the Palisades fires could have been mitigated.  

The Reservoir will likely be refilled by April 2025.  

Technical Description

The Santa Ynez Reservoir is an artificial restorer with a117 million Gallons or approximately 359 acre-feet holding capacity. The reservoir is made of artificial clay-lined concrete, and when it was still active, it provided around 24000 people with water through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LAWDWP). IT was Completed in 1970 on a 57.9-acre land parcel at 1351 Palisades Drive in the City of Los Angeles. The maximum surface of the Reservoir covers an approximate area of 9.2 acres and sits around 730 ft elevation.

Actors and Institutional Arrangements

Gerald W. Jones – the then chief water engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LAWP)

William J. Simon – a water engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LAWP)

Tania Bonfiglio - an environmental supervisor at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LAWP)

Thomas Golden – Chief Hearing Examiner for the Los Angeles City Council Planning Commission

Aetron - Contractors who constructed the reservoir in 1966.

Los Angeles City Planning Commission (CPC) - this commission advises the Mayor, City Council, and Director of Planning on land use policies and proposed development projects. The CPC approved a conditional use permit for construction of the reservoir in Santa Ynez.

Los Angeles Fire Department -

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LAWP) - the key actor in the construction of the Santa Ynez Reservoir.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -

Timeline

Construction and Early Use

• 1965 – The Los Angeles City Council Planning Committee approves a permit to construct the Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Santa Ynez Canyon.
• 1966 – Aetron (a division of Aerojet-General Corp.) is awarded a $2.5 million construction contract.
• 1970 – Construction concludes, and the reservoir is officially put into service.

Regulatory Upgrades

• 2008 – The Santa Ynez Reservoir Floating Cover Project is initiated by LADWP to comply with EPA regulations for improved water quality.
• December 2011 – Final construction for the floating cover is completed.
• December 19, 2012 – A floating Hypalon cover is installed over the reservoir to meet federal water quality standards.

The 2024 Cover Tear and Response Delays

• January 2024 – A LADWP property manager discovers a tear in the reservoir cover during a routine inspection.
• February 2024 – Initial evaluations indicate no immediate contamination; LADWP plans to continue using the reservoir.
• March 2024 – The State Water Resources Control Board criticizes LADWP's decision, prompting the agency to drain the reservoir for repairs.
• April 2024 – A formal bidding process begins for repair contracts.
• November 2024 – Repairs finally commence, ten months after the tear was first discovered.

Impact of the Delay on the 2025 Wildfires

• January 2025 – The reservoir remains empty when wildfires spread across Los Angeles, potentially limiting the Los Angeles Fire Department's firefighting capabilities.
• March 5th, 2025 – McNulty Law Firm & Wood Law Firm file lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power in connection with the Palisades wildfire and reports that hydrants ran dry as firefighters attempted to fight the fire
• April 2025 (Projected) – The reservoir is expected to be refilled and put back into service.

Funding and Financing

In 1965, after a thorough evaluation process, the Los Angeles City Council Planning Committee granted a permit for the construction of the reservoir at a projected cost of $1.5 million. This decision underscored the city’s commitment to addressing its growing water needs and managing resources effectively.  

To bring this ambitious project to fruition, a construction contract worth nearly $2.5 million was awarded to Aetron, a division of Aerojet-General Corp., which is headquartered in El Monte, California. Aetron’s expertise in large-scale construction projects played a vital role in the successful development of the Santa Ynez Canyon Reservoir, helping to ensure reliable water supply for the region’s residents and agricultural sectors for years to come.  

Santa Ynez Reservoir Floating Cover Project (2008)

In 2008 the Santa Ynez Reservoir Floating Cover Project was started by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power with the intention of bringing the reservoir in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency regulations to improve water quality. The reported budget for the project is estimated to have been 17 million dollars. The two main objectives of the project included phasing out the use of chlorine into the better-quality chloramines as the disinfectant. As a tertiary objective the placement of a Hypalon cover is required to properly integrate the chloramines into the water treatment process. These chloramines are less reactive that the originally used chlorine and will provide longer lasting protection to the water. The cover will also prevent disease causing debris such as bird droppings from accumulating in the drinking water. Another component of this project was also created to reduce the unsightliness of the cover which included massive landscaping investment that improved the rock-work and planting in the vicinity of the reservoir. Steps were also taken to blend the cover into the nearby environment by making the perimeter road a darker shade of color. These objectives were completed in December 2011 when the final construction ended in December 19^th 2012.

Safe Water Drinking Act Amendment (2016)

The Federal government amended the Safe Water Drinking Act in 2016 to be enforced by the Environmental Protection Act, which the LADWP interpreted to require that all open-air reservoirs be covered to prevent potential contamination. Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR). The act is the second stage that builds on the "Stage 1 Disinfectants and disinfection byproducts rule” in a process to remove pathogens specifically targeting Cryptosporidium from drinking water in the United States by a 2-log or 99% reduction. Cryptosporidium is a parasite transmitted through animal feces that can infect open-air reservoirs and cause Cryptosporidiosis in humans when consumed. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and fatigue, which can lead to death. The disease becomes disproportionately severe in those with a weakened immune system. In the United States, the CDC has reported that of the nearly 7500 cases tracked from 2009-2017, only one death was reported, with around 300 individuals hospitalized. States, including Puerto Rico, voluntarily reported the cases and are not all-inclusive.

The Cover Tear (2024)

The Santa Ynez cover tore in February of 2024, which led the LAWDP to shut down to maintain compliance with LT2ESWTR. The LADWP 2024-25 Water Infrastructure Plan is listed as one of its 2024-25 Goals to repair the Santa Ynez Reservoir cover. The City of Los Angeles released the tender notice to fix the floating cover on 2024-07-11. The LADWP has claimed all repairs are subject to the LA contract standards which is a lengthy process. This is the last information obtainable about the state of the repair.  

In 2019, New York found itself in a similar predicament when its failure to cover the Hillview Reservoir led to a suit being filed by the EPA under the Safe Water Drinking Act. The results included a million-dollar fine, and several billion-dollar updates being mandated to bring the reservoir into compliance with Federal regulations.

The Palisades Fires (2025)

In January 2025, wildfires spread through the Pacific Palisades region, affecting residential areas and surrounding landscapes. Dry conditions and strong winds contributed to the rapid expansion of the fire, leading to widespread evacuations and significant property damage. Firefighting efforts were carried out across the affected areas, utilizing water sources from local hydrants and reservoirs.

At the time of the fires, the Santa Ynez Reservoir remained empty due to ongoing repairs following a cover tear discovered in January 2024. During the firefighting operations, multiple hydrants in the affected areas reportedly experienced water shortages. The fire continued to spread, impacting homes and infrastructure throughout the region. Following the fires, legal proceedings were initiated regarding water availability during the emergency, and discussions regarding infrastructure management and reservoir maintenance continued.

Social Perception/Public Outrage

Several Months after the Palisades fire an increase in threats to the LADWP have caused the consideration of security being contracted for the CEO/Chief engineer Janisse Quiñones for up to a year. This is after several news agencies reported during the Palisades Fire fires that Quiñones, who had been hired in May of 2024 knew of the empty reservoir and broken fire hydrants. These claims have been denied by the LADWP in a release on January 11^th 2025 intending to correct perceived misinformation surrounding infrastructure failure during the fires. The LADWP board of commissioners have postponed the vote for private security and it still remains unclear how they will move forward now that the public police forces can no longer provide security. Several investigations into the causes of the fires have been launched.

Maps

Project Map Location of the Santa Ynez Reservoir

Lessons Learned

Management of Government resources are liable to mismanagement due to lengthy procedural requirements that prioritize standardization over efficient and specific problem solving. Government procedures are often standardized in such a way they can respond to issues in a manner accordant to the desired results set out by the body which formed the procedures. However, a limitation to this approach is the ability of broad practices to respond to specific issues in a manner that prioritizes immediate needs over procedural demands. In the case of the Santa Ynez Reservoir, it is likely the tear in the reservoir cover would have been addressed in a more hasteful manner without lengthy government requirements, potentially saving lives and people’s homes.  

Discussion Questions

What are some ways in which government entities can prevent standardized procedures from preventing fast and specific responses?

• Is this an inherent problem with democracy?
• Is this due to the “Bureaucratic State” that is now under attack with the Trump Administration