Mother Nature Assists During Water Plant Shutdown

The Metropolitan Water District finished a number of improvements to the F.E. Weymouth Treatment Plant in LaVerne on schedule Monday, ending a .

The shutdown cut supplies to cities served by the Weymouth plant by over 50 percent, during which time the Walnut Valley Water District urged residents to shut off all lawn and garden irrigation systems and reduce unnecessary household water uses.

Mike Holmes, general manager of the Walnut Valley Water District, said that totals of water consumption for that period have not been calculated, but no shortages were experienced.

Holmes said that customer conservation made for a smooth shutdown, alongside a fortunate period of rainfall that Holmes said was a "key factor."

According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, rainfall collected near the southern split of the 57 and 60 freeways totaled just under 3.5 inches from March 18 to March 28.

Holmes said that backup water connections that had been prepared at the plant were not needed and that the reserves on hand at the facility proved enough for the 10-day cutback.

"We had a lot of community support," Holmes said, "and MWD was able to complete the repairs in the time frame they originally set out."

According to a March 25 update from the MWD, The shutdown at the Weymouth facility allowed for a number of "reliability upgrades" and seismic improvements and inspections of structures that are not accessible while the plant is in operation.