Water rights vs. water usage is one matter, but the thing that drives water through pipes is pressure. I watched a bit of one of the press conferences, and someone a few days ago said that the fire had caused damage to some of the pipes resulting in a loss of pressure.
Having driven all the way around the island, there are many, many bridges that cross small washes/arroyos. This is typically the location where underground water pipes are suspended underneath the bridges from one side to the other, exposing them to possible damage from a fire event. The fire heats up the water inside, which may be "trapped" by a nearby valve, and the pipe fails. Once a seam or a junction is compromised, there is no longer sufficient pressure along that line, and it may impact adjoining lines depending upon how they are fitted.
Water rights vs. water usage is one matter, but the thing that drives water through pipes is pressure. I watched a bit of one of the press conferences, and someone a few days ago said that the fire had caused damage to some of the pipes resulting in a loss of pressure.
Having driven all the way around the island, there are many, many bridges that cross small washes/arroyos. This is typically the location where underground water pipes are suspended underneath the bridges from one side to the other, exposing them to possible damage from a fire event. The fire heats up the water inside, which may be "trapped" by a nearby valve, and the pipe fails. Once a seam or a junction is compromised, there is no longer sufficient pressure along that line, and it may impact adjoining lines depending upon how they are fitted.