Sun Valley Water Well Proposal Hits Snag

Aproposal to drill backup water wells for the city of Los Angeles in Sun Valley hit a snag in a City Council committee Tuesday and was referred to another committee for review of potential environmental problems.

The city Department of Water and Power wants to drill 12 wells and build a pumping and chlorinating station on Arleta Avenue just west of the Hollywood Freeway. Neighbors complained to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee that the project would cause noise and vibration at their homes.

“I think that’s unacceptable,” said Richard Hall, who said he lives less than 200 feet from the site.

Well drilling would take place six days a week for two years, according to the DWP. Once drilled, the wells would provide an alternative water source in times of drought or natural disasters.

But Councilman Hal Bernson, the committee chairman, said he was more concerned about environmental issues, including possible water pollution by the well field’s proximity to the Sheldon-Arleta Landfill.

“I’m very concerned about the quality of the water, but I’m not going to bring that before this committee,” Bernson said. Instead, Bernson referred the project to the Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee, asking its members to “take a long, hard look” at the proposal’s potential environmental problems.