WOODLAND HILLS—A persistent water leak on Yucatan Avenue in Woodland Hills has left neighbors demanding answers after years of unresolved complaints. There is a pool of water and sludge on the sidewalk that never fully dries. Crews have responded multiple times over the years, including several visits in 2023.
The standing water has drawn insects like mosquitoes and bees. One nearby resident’s mail carrier stopped delivering mail to their address because of a bee allergy. In an interview with KTLA 5 News, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power indicated the water isn’t coming from the water main but from natural groundwater beneath the street.
Residents argue that no formal inspection or report has ever confirmed that. Two neighbors living adjacent to the leak, Amy Shapiro and Matt Witek spoke to KTLA with, Shapiro indicating she first noticed the leak in 2018, while Witek says he first spotted the issue in 2021, when he moved in.
“It’s basically hearsay which is unacceptable for a geological concern especially given the sinkholes recently in Los Angeles…Not only is this a health and safety hazard for me and my family; it’s a hand being raised in concern for our neighborhood,” Witek told KTLA 5 about LADWP’s explanation.
Neighbors say they have contacted 311, LADWP, and Los Angeles City Council member Bob Blumenfield’s office for years, but no single department has taken accountability. Shapiro says she feels ignored despite paying for city services. According to Shapiro, “Everyone pays taxes to ensure our public streets and utilities are well maintained and safe. We do not feel taken care of by the city.”
Blumenfield is a councilmember for the 3rd Council District which includes the southwestern San Fernando Valley neighborhoods of LA that include Woodland Hills, Winnetka, Canoga Park, Reseda and Tarzana.
By Milan Manesh