The trunk line that ruptured early Thursday, sending thousands of gallons of water rushing down Sunset Strip and surrounding communities, was installed 110 years ago and has emerged as the latest example of L.A.’s struggles to overhaul its aging water system. The break was on a riveted steel pipe from 1916 that forms the major arteries for water delivery from reservoirs and tanks to smaller distribution mainlines across Los Angeles. The section of the Sunset Trunk Line was slated to be replaced in 2031, according to the utility. … In 2019, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said roughly 29% of the city’s pipes were over 80 years old, approaching their typical lifespan of 100 years. Utilities have been struggling to keep the system going, given funds are limited for any kind of major overhaul of the aging pipes.

Related:

• ABC7 (Los Angeles): Century-old ruptured water main in West Hollywood was slated for replacement under LADWP project
• The Guardian (U.K.): Sinkhole on Sunset Boulevard: broken water pipe floods LA-area hotspot