Four million Los Angeles County residents faced a 15-day watering ban as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) made emergency repairs to a leaking pipeline, according to Rebuild SoCal's news release.

The residents affected by the shutdown include residents of Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Fernando, and Torrance, as well as areas served by the Central Basin Municipal Water District, Foothill Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and West Basin Municipal Water District.

The Upper Feeder pipeline has stopped operating to allow workers to conduct repairs, according to Rebuild SoCal. During this time, the district will switch over to supplies from the California State Water Project. 

Adel Hagekhalil, GM of MWD, stressed that the leak is a reminder that the water district needs to invest in its aging infrastructure at a recent press conference.

“What we want to make sure is that we don’t have a catastrophic failure of that critical pipe,” said Hagekhalil. “Because if that fails, it’ll be an emergency, and we will lose water.” He referred to the repairs needed for the leaking pipe as performing “emergency surgery versus a catastrophic surgery.”