Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Altadena Water Losses from Eaton Fire Shape Regional Hazard Plan

Damage to Altadena water systems during the Eaton Fire helped shape a new regional hazard mitigation plan intended to strengthen drinking-water infrastructure and reduce service interruptions during earthquakes, wildfires and other disasters.

Foothill Municipal Water District and five retail water agencies released the draft five-year plan for public review July 14. The district said in a news release that comments will be accepted through Aug. 7.

The Draft Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is available for public review online: www.fmwd.com/hazard-mitigation-plan

The plan describes extensive damage to water systems serving Altadena during the Eaton Fire, including damage to reservoirs, pumps, electrical equipment, pipelines, meters and communications equipment.

According to the draft, seven of 23 reservoirs in the affected area were damaged.

The plan says Las Flores Water Company lost about 74% of its service connections during the fire, while Lincoln Avenue Water Company lost about 55% and Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association lost about 35%.

The draft says damage to the three primary water systems serving Altadena reduced their ability to provide water for household use and firefighting.

The plan also says the fire created long-term infrastructure, financial and recovery pressures for water agencies that lost facilities and substantial portions of their service connections.

Foothill Municipal Water District, the regional wholesale water supplier, remained operational during the fire, according to the draft. Several retail water systems serving Altadena, however, sustained substantial damage.

The draft says intense firefighting demand, leaks, destroyed service connections and system damage contributed to depressurization of local water systems and subsequent water-quality problems.

The draft says benzene and other volatile organic compounds entered portions of the pipelines, making the water unsafe to drink and prompting do-not-drink and do-not-boil orders in Altadena and surrounding areas.

Affected systems had to be repressurized, flushed and extensively tested before safe service could be restored, according to the draft.

The plan says the Eaton Fire demonstrated how wildfire can damage reservoirs, pumps, electrical equipment, pipelines, meters, service lines and communications systems while also reducing water pressure and contaminating portions of a distribution system.

The formal planning partnership includes Foothill Municipal Water District, Crescenta Valley Water District, La Cañada Irrigation District, Las Flores Water Company, Lincoln Avenue Water Company and Valley Water Company.

The draft says Foothill Municipal Water District invited its member agencies to participate in the planning effort beginning in mid-2024.

Rubio Cañon, which serves part of Altadena and is identified in the draft as having sustained substantial Eaton Fire losses, is not listed as a formal participant in the plan.

Two other Foothill member agencies, Kinneloa Irrigation District and Liberty Utilities, also are not listed as formal participants.

The plan ranks earthquakes as the highest combined threat to participating water systems. Drought, extreme temperatures, strong winds and wildfire also are classified as high-priority hazards.

The district said the public may submit comments through the hazard mitigation section of its website. Questions may be directed to Natalie Ouwersloot, the district’s assistant general manager and district engineer, at 818-790-4036.