As the city of Los Angeles and the L.A. Department of Water and Power face lawsuits by residents who claim the city failed to ensure adequate water to fight the Palisades fire, California legislators have passed a bill that would give water agencies a new tool to defend themselves in such cases.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1153, would clarify that public water agencies do not have a duty to design, build or maintain a water system for wildfire defense or suppression, and that the inability to maintain water supply or water pressure during a wildfire is not a “substantial cause” of fire damages.

The bill, which is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, also would require urban retail water suppliers in high or very high fire hazard zones to include specific response procedures for wildfires as part of their disaster preparedness plans, including equipment and actions that can lessen the impact of a fire on the water system.

The Assn. of California Water Agencies, which represents about 470 public agencies, sponsored the legislation.

Bill would help California water agencies in wildfire damage lawsuits - Los Angeles Times