Cleaning up the water

Federal rules finally taking effect mean that Los Angeles' uncovered city reservoirs will no longer hold drinking water, the Times says. Unlike most places, L.A. has traditionally treated its water with ozone and chlorine before storing it in open-air reservoirs such as Silver Lake and Lake Hollywood behind Mulholland Dam (shown) in Weid Canyon. Chlorine, however, is now out of favor and chloramine is in. But it reacts with sunlight to promote algae growth, so any reservoirs used for drinking water have to be covered. Lake Hollywood, Stone Canyon and Encino are already being used to hold emergency supplies of mostly untreated water for fighting fires; new underground tanks hold the good stuff. The future of six other reservoirs, including Silver Lake, is still being worked out. Politically, you have to think Silver Lake isn't going anywhere no matter how much water is needed to keep it pretty.

By the way, has anyone else seen the large turtles paddling around in Lake Hollywood?