When was this published?

This article was first published on July 25, 2026 by Los Angeles Times - California and curated for The Los Angeles readers.

Who reported this story?

This story was reported by Steve Lopez at Los Angeles Times - California.

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Lopez: In L.A.'s underground, the public servants are 80, 90 and 100. It's tough getting old

Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times - California · July 25, 2026 · 1 min read

Photo: Los Angeles Times - California · view original

LADWP is replacing 45 miles of aging water lines annually. As leaks sprout, should it do more?

Why this matters in The Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's effort to replace 45 miles of aging water lines every year is a significant undertaking, given the city's vast and complex infrastructure. As the city's population continues to grow, the strain on these aging lines will only increase, making the replacement process a pressing concern. The fact that leaks are sprouting up raises questions about whether the current replacement rate is sufficient to keep up with the demand. For a city like Los Angeles, where water conservation is already a major issue, the potential for wasted water due to leaks is a concern that resonates deeply with residents. As the city moves forward with its replacement efforts, it will be crucial to monitor the impact on water conservation and determine if more needs to be done to address the issue of aging infrastructure.

About this story

Original reporting by Los Angeles Times - California. The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit Los Angeles Times - California. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 25, 2026 · Source: Los Angeles Times - California · Reading time: 1 min

Summary created by	The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times - California
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 25, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 25, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Lopez: In L.A.'s underground, the public servants are 80, 90 and 100. It's tough getting old

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