Westside Reservoir Improvement Project
Modernizing our water system to keep South Pasadena safe, reliable, and resilient.
What’s Happening?
The City of South Pasadena is planning important upgrades to the Westside Reservoir—one of the key facilities that stores drinking water and helps maintain water pressure for thousands of homes. The reservoir was built in 1963 and is now showing its age. Engineers have recommended that it be fully replaced to ensure it can meet current earthquake standards and continue operating safely for decades to come.
Why Replace the Reservoir?
- It no longer meets today’s seismic safety requirements
- Structural components are worn and outdated
- A larger reservoir will give the City more emergency and fire-flow storage, strengthening community safety
What Will Be Built?
The project will replace the existing two-million-gallon reservoir with a new 2.95-million-gallon reservoir in the same location on Glen Place. The water height stays the same, but the new reservoir will be slightly wider to increase storage capacity.
Along with the reservoir, the City will also build:
- A new pump station to move water through the system
- A modern operations building with workspace for City staff
- A replacement storage building
Where Is the Project Located?
The reservoir is located on a hilltop off Glen Place [821 Glen Place] and surrounded by mature trees. As part of the environmental review, the City will study how construction may affect the area and plan for appropriate protections.
How Is the City Analyzing the Project?
In preparation of the construction, the City has completed or in the process of completing:
- Technical studies including structural, seismic, and geotechnical assessments [Completed]
- A Preliminary Design Report [Completed]
- Environmental review [In progress - expected to be in the format of an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration]
These ensure the project is designed safely, responsibly, and with community input.
What’s Next?
While the environmental documentation is being finalized – the City will be shifting this project into the community engagement stage. Over the coming months, the City will share project information, gather community feedback via community and commission meetings, and provide opportunities for residents to ask questions and learn more about the planned improvements.
Following this engagement process, City staff will return to the City Council with a summary of community input and a recommended path forward, including consideration of project approval and authorization to advance the Westside Reservoir project into the construction phase.
COMMUNITY MEETING #1
Thursday, December 11, 2025 - In Person
Location: Library Community Room - 1115 El Centro St.
Date/Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Resources
Westside Reservoir Community Meeting Presentation(PDF, 3MB)