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Resident urges city to demand Cal Water details on wildfire readiness, leaks and Palos Verdes reservoir
Summary
During public comment, resident Fred Visco asked the council to demand detailed monitoring data and timelines from California Water Service (Cal Water) and the Metropolitan Water District regarding infrastructure, leaks, sinkholes and the out‑of‑service Palos Verdes Reservoir.
Resident Fred Visco used the public‑comment period to press the council to require California Water Service Company (Cal Water) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to provide detailed information on water infrastructure, leak monitoring and wildfire response readiness.
Visco said Cal Water presented a wildfire hardening and reliability project for Appaloosa and Upper Blackwater at a prior council meeting and that the company had said the project would improve fire‑flow capacity and be completed in April 2025. Visco said Cal Water had told the city it would prepare a geotechnical report and provide it to the city. He asked whether the city had requested details on how the project improves fire flow capacity and for complete monitoring and historical leak/break data predating land movement in 2024.
Visco told council: “I strongly urge the city to require Cal Water supply complete information concerning how they are monitoring their infrastructure for breaks and leaks.” He also urged the city to send a letter to the Metropolitan Water District asking whether the Palos Verdes Reservoir (which Visco said can store about 360,000,000 gallons and has been out of service since March 2022) could be placed back into service to support wildfire response, including aerial applications and water for hydrants.
Visco enumerated specific requests: an investigation into a tree fallen near 3 Quail Ridge Road South, follow‑up on a sinkhole on Citrine Road, a timeline for replacing underground infrastructure on Quail Ridge Road South and Century Road, and an explanation of Cal Water’s monitors for low pressure and vibration that indicate breaks or leaks. He asked the council to insist Cal Water provide a comprehensive timeline and monitoring data showing the system’s ability to respond to a major wildfire in Rolling Hills.
Council acknowledged the comments and said staff would note them; the speaker list shows Visco’s statements during the public‑comment segment and the council moved on to agenda business after receiving comments.
