LA Water Official EXPOSED Over Water Supply Failures

As Los Angeles reels from devastating wildfires, the city’s top water official faces mounting criticism over infrastructure failures that hampered firefighting efforts.

At a Glance

  • Wildfires in Los Angeles led to water supply issues, affecting firefighting efforts
  • Fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades had little to no water due to high demand
  • Over 5,000 structures were destroyed by the Palisades fire
  • Janisse Quiñones, CEO of LADWP, faces criticism for infrastructure failures
  • Questions arise about Quiñones’ leadership and previous connection to PG&E

Water Crisis Hampers Firefighting Efforts

The recent wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles have exposed critical weaknesses in the city’s water infrastructure, leaving firefighters struggling to combat the blaze. As flames engulfed the Pacific Palisades area, fire crews faced a dire situation when their water lines ran dry around midnight, severely hampering their ability to protect homes and lives.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) reported that water demand during the fire was four times the normal level for 15 hours. By 3 a.m. Wednesday, all water storage tanks in the Palisades were dry, reducing water flow at higher elevations. This unprecedented demand overwhelmed the system, leaving firefighters without a crucial resource in their battle against the inferno.

Criticism Mounts Against LADWP Leadership

As the smoke clears, attention has turned to Janisse Quiñones, the CEO of LADWP, who finds herself at the center of a growing controversy. Quiñones, who earns a $750,000 salary – nearly double that of her predecessor – is facing intense scrutiny for her role in the infrastructure failures that contributed to the Palisades Fire, including a disconnected reservoir and broken fire hydrants.

Quiñones attempted to explain the situation, stating, “We had a tremendous demand on our system in the Palisades. We pushed the system to the extreme.” However, her words have done little to quell the rising tide of criticism from residents and local officials alike.

Questions Arise About Quiñones’ Background

Adding fuel to the fire of controversy is Quiñones’ previous employment as a Senior Vice President at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), a company with a troubled history regarding wildfires in California. PG&E’s power lines were responsible for the Dixie Fire in 2021, the second-largest wildfire in California history, and the 2018 Camp Fire, which led to a staggering $13.5 billion legal settlement.

“We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design,” said Marty Adams, a former General Manager and Chief Engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which is responsible for delivering water to nearly four million residents of Los Angeles.

This connection to PG&E has raised questions about Quiñones’ ability to effectively manage Los Angeles’ fire-related risks, especially in light of the recent infrastructure failures. The hiring of Quiñones was part of an initiative by Mayor Karen Bass to attract private-sector talent by offering competitive salaries, but critics are now questioning whether this strategy has backfired.

As Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire and seeks answers for the water system’s failure, the spotlight on Janisse Quiñones and LADWP’s leadership is unlikely to dim anytime soon. The city’s residents and officials are demanding accountability and solutions to ensure that such a catastrophic failure never happens again.