Reservoir Closed Again to Clean Out Larvae
Midge fly larvae stewing from the drought and summer heat forced the Department of Water and Power to shut down the Rowena Reservoir in Los Feliz Friday for the second time this summer. Service will not be interrupted.
Robert DiPrimio, a sanitary engineer with the department, said the closure was prompted by about a dozen complaints from residents who found the tiny, thread-like larvae coming out of their water faucets.
An inspection Friday by department officials found a thick layer of larvae on the bottom of the 16-million-gallon reservoir.
The reservoir will be out of service for two to three weeks while the water is treated with copper sulphate, a chemical that kills the larvae and eventually dissipates.
DiPrimio said the midge fly larvae outbreak was probably caused by this summer’s high temperatures. Silver Lake Reservoir also was closed in July because of midge fly larvae.
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