Santa Ynez Reservoir, empty during Palisades Fire, is being refilled – NBC Los Angeles

Santa Ynez Reservoir, empty during Palisades Fire, is being refilled  NBC Los Angeles

The reservoir is expected to be fully refilled and back in service by the end of the year, according to LADWP. The giant drinking water reservoir in the Pacific Palisades highlands, that many Palisades fire victims believe could have supplied enough water to save their homes had it been filled in January, had to be drained again this month. Repairs to tears in its protective cover were made in March, 2025, but more leaks were found as the Santa Ynez Reservoir was refilled in the last weeks. The DWP says the next round of repairs should be quick and the reservoir back in service in May. Still unclear — is whether a full reservoir could have changed the outcome on January 7, when 3 smaller high-elevation supply tanks ran dry, and pumps could not refill them fast enough to supply water as the fire burned into the night.

The Santa Ynez Reservoir is being refilled after being drained on and off for nearly three years, including during the 2025 Palisades Fire, Los Angeles officials announced Friday. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) said crews began refilling the Pacific Palisades reservoir after replacing its floating cover, which sits on top of the water to protect it from contamination. The reservoir is expected to be fully refilled and back