Malibu Sealed Off After Water Leak Dries Up Supply

The city of Malibu was sealed off to everyone except residents Friday night as a water main break dried up the water supply to 5,000 residents.

The leak in a high-pressure main depleted the water district’s tanks, leaving only whatever was still in the pipes for residents and businesses.

Malibu officials Friday night were trucking in bottled water for residents to pick up at two locations.

Authorities said they hope to have the leak repaired and water flowing by mid-morning today. But Pacific Coast Highway will remain closed from Topanga Canyon Boulevard on the south to Encinal Canyon Road on the north until at least Monday morning, authorities said. Access to the city from inland roads also is blocked.

A leak in the high-pressure main was discovered Thursday afternoon near PCH and Big Rock Road. It initially left fewer than 100 households and businesses without service. Workers repaired the leak overnight, but another one, about 200 feet away from the first, sprang Friday afternoon.

By Friday evening, authorities were not certain how many of the 5,000 customers in the area were without water.

“Our large [water] tanks are almost empty,” said Melinda Barrett, spokeswoman for the county Department of Public Works. “There’s only a limited amount of water in the system. The more the residents around here use it, the sooner they’ll run out.”

Authorities have set up two locations where Malibu residents can pick up bottled drinking water as well as water in bulk 24 hours a day. The sites are near the corner of Trancas Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway and at John Tyler Drive and PCH at Pepperdine University. There also are portable toilets at the sites.

The sites will be open until the leak is fixed, Barrett said.

Residents with questions can call (310) 456-6621.