Corrosion to blame for LA water pipeline ruptures

A panel of experts reported Tuesday that corrosion was to blame for an increase in water pipeline failures. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power released a report developed by experts from the University of Southern California, Cornell University and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory which blamed the breaks on corroded portions of the aging system. See the full report here (PDF, 215k).

The city has seen a spate of major water breaks this year, several highly publicized ruptures, including one in Valley Village that opened a sinkhole that engulfed a firetruck. DWP officials said the panel determined that the city's conservation program, which limits lawn watering to Mondays and Thursdays, was not to blame for the pipeline problems. Some experts had theorized that the watering restrictions overburdened the system on the allowed days and may have contributed to the breaks.

From Contra Costa Times and NACEtweet.