Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit
gorfian_robot | on: The Los Angeles Aqueduct Is Wild
Being from LA, I am used to a water system that works without needing power. I think most of CA is like that. It was a surprise to lose the water back east when the power went out during a storm.
macNchz | parent | next
The only places I've heard of losing water during power outages are houses that use a private well (no power, no well pump), which would be the case anywhere. Municipal water systems may or may not use power to provide pressure, but are going to have generator power outside of the most severe outages.
MrZander | root | parent
Also, water towers. As long as the power isn't out long enough to deplete the tower.
larkost | parent | next
I wonder if this was in an apartment building. We owned a condo in a 5 story (4+1) apartment building and because it was taller than the San Jose water system was built for, our building needed (electric) pumps to provide water pressure to the building (there were tanks on the roof). If we lost power, then we lost water.

Now that we have moved to a 2 floor detached home (also in San Jose) we do not have that issue, and everything is gravity fed.

loading story #47457090
duomo | parent | next
The LA water system is dependent on power as a whole. There’s many pumping stations along the various aqueducts.
tjwebbnorfolk | parent | next
We do not lose water on the east coast when the power goes out
devilbunny | parent | next
I know NYC doesn't treat their water at all, but LA doesn't either?

My city runs on surface water, so we have treatment and then pump to storage tanks. You would have to be out for quite a while to run the city out of water, though - the tanks are large.

kenhwang | root | parent | next
LA definitely treats the water. Both the surface water before consumption (I'd be surprised if any city doesn't do this) and the wastewater, for reclamation for nonportable use like irrigation, and for recycling back into the general clean water supply.

The aqueduct water is specifically purified by the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant. That plant is gravity fed, but it doesn't operate without power.

LA just has the advantage of having mountains in the city, so it's cheaper building more elevated water storage so the capacity lasts longer during power interruptions (which are also not as common or extended as they are in the east). They will still eventually run out if they're not replenished by powered pumps.

simtel20 | root | parent | next
Where did you get that idea about NYC water being untreated? NYC treats its water. Chlorine is added if and when needed. Testing stations exist to evaluate water quality all around the boroughs, etc.

You can't have a city of millions of people and have the water be potable from the tap without testing and treatment

ceejayoz | root | parent
https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/10-facts-you-may-not-know-abou...

> New York City’s water (including drinking water) is unfiltered, making it the largest unfiltered water system in the country. Were New York to begin filtering its water, it would cost the city approximately 1 million dollars per day to operate the filtration plant.

They have hundreds of sampling stations to check daily.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/nyregion/nyc-tap-water-qu...

This causes some issues for observant Jews, because the water technically might not be kosher.

https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-news/nyc-water/

https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/nyregion/the-waters-fine-...

andrewflnr | root | parent | next
Ok, but unfiltered does not imply untreated. Maybe that's where they got the idea, though.
loading story #47458615
valarauko | root | parent | next
It's largely unfiltered, but it is still treated for disinfection. Chlorination and UV is standard for NYC water, and its fluoridated as well.
loading story #47459811
mikestew | root | parent
I know NYC doesn't treat their water at all…

EDIT: I'm a dork an grabbed the wrong URL. Changed URL to a PDF for lack of better.

A major metro doesn’t treat its tap water? Where on earth did you get that crazy idea?

<old URL deleted>

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/water/drinking-...

I'll save some digging: "Even without filtration, the water is carefully treated to reduce the risk of harmful microorganisms."

loading story #47457322
loading story #47457291
loading story #47459788