Refilling of Silver Lake reservoir begins

Councilmember LaBonge demonstrates the high quality of the water used to refill Silver Lake, as LADWP GM & CEO H. David Nahai and Council President Garcetti look on.

Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Tom LaBonge and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) CEO & General Manager David Nahai opened the valves at the Silver Lake Reservoir, releasing fresh snow melt from the Eastern Sierra Mountains into the reservoir.

Silver Lake had been drained as a precautionary measure after the LADWP discovered a rare chemical reaction triggered by sunlight caused higher than normal levles of the chemical bromate. The reservoir was removed from service in October, drained and prepared for the fresh water that was released Wednesday.

"Water quality is extremely important for all of Los Angeles. The Department has assured me that the quality of the water going into the Silver Lake Reservoir is up to the standards of the rest of the system. The precautions they took paid off and now the reservoir will be back in service," Councilmember LaBonge said.

The refilling of Silver Lake Reservoir, which serves approximately 600,000 customers in Downtown, Central and South Los Angeles, is estimated to be completed by the end of the month, with the filling occurring largely at night.

For more information, visit the LADWP website: http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp010566.jsp