Lone Pine News: LADWP Proposes Replacing Deteriorating Town Water Well W344 in 2026

LONE PINE NEWS | WATER INFRASTRUCTURE | 2026 — Lone Pine, Inyo County, California.

The system supplying domestic water to Lone Pine could receive an important backup upgrade under a proposal documented in September 2026. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) filed a California Environmental Quality Act notice for replacing a deteriorating well known as W344, explaining that a structural failure could leave the town without an important backup water source.

Why the existing well is a concern

According to the September 1 Notice of Exemption, Lone Pine receives domestic water through two town supply wells, W344 and W346. W344 generally serves during winter when demands are lower. An inspection documented casing deterioration, openings that have grown, a distorted shape and buildup inside the well. LADWP warned that further deterioration could ultimately cause casing collapse.

The planned replacement

The agency proposes a new well, W433, at the same wellfield on LADWP land. Its planned 18-inch steel casing would use screened intervals matching the existing well, drawing from the same aquifers. The replacement would pump at no more than 2.1 cubic feet per second, equal to or less than the existing permitted W344 capacity, and serve the same domestic-water purpose.

What happens to W344?

The filing says the older well would either be abandoned or converted into a monitoring well after the replacement is activated. That is a proposed sequence, not evidence that the new well is already drilling, completed or supplying households. The notice is an environmental filing that identifies the project and regulatory basis, rather than a construction completion certificate.

Why the project deserves local attention

Redundancy is particularly important in a small town that depends on a limited number of groundwater sources. Residents can ask for a project schedule, the final budget, water-quality test results, any temporary supply arrangements and the decision on whether W344 becomes a monitoring well. Lone Pine News will distinguish planned work from confirmed installation milestones.

Official source

California CEQA State Clearinghouse — Replacement of Lone Pine Town Supply Well W344, SCH 2026090019, September 1, 2026.

Help independent local news grow Your contribution helps us build and sustain community reporting.

Support Lone Pine News

Choose how to support Lone Pine News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal

Zelle323-677-7643Open Zelle through your bank. Verify the recipient before sending.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Lone Pine News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Lone Pine News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.