By admin 
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — Residents in West Hollywood continue to deal with the aftermath of last week’s water main break on Sunset Boulevard that sent nearly 17 million gallons of water rushing down Palm Avenue.
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The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has replaced the broken section of pipe, but testing and repairs are still underway before the system can fully return to normal.
“There’s a lot that they still have to test to make sure that the pipe is safe. We want it done right, not fast,” West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said.
Heilman said the city held a virtual meeting with residents Sunday morning to answer questions about the water main break and ongoing recovery efforts.
Many residents are still coping with the damage caused by the flooding, according to the mayor.
“People still suffering a great deal of trauma if they’ve lost their cars and they’ve lost their place to live temporarily but we’re working very closely with them to try to assist,” Heilman said.
The mayor estimated that between 150 and 200 vehicles were damaged or destroyed in flooded garages. He also said several homes were affected by the flooding.
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“There were seven units that suffered water intrusion. Four of them were pretty significant water intrusion. The other three was relatively minor or moderate intrusion,” Heilman said.
Two residential buildings remain without power as repairs continue.
“They’re waiting to get electricians in there who can replace their electrical panels. Until that is done, the buildings remain without power,” Heilman said.
LADWP has deployed 200 personnel to help restore full water service and reopen streets. Crews are checking the transmission line for leaks and verifying that the pipe remains structurally sound and able to withstand pressure.
“I know that LADWP has been out here working around the clock, and it’s amazing that they’ve already got the replacement pipe in there. They’re doing some testing and of course, during that process, they discover some pinhole leaks that they have to fix but that’s a pretty normal process with a replacement pipe of this size,” Heilman said.
Officials said their top priority is ensuring that the water flowing through the system is clean and safe for residents.
Anyone with property or vehicle damage can file a claim through LADWP at ladwp.com/claims.
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