What is happening with the ground?
The Portuguese Bend landslide complex covers roughly 240 acres along the city's coast, including the Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove and Klondike Canyon areas. The ground there has moved for decades, and movement accelerated in recent years. In 2024, SoCalGas shut off gas to 135 homes in Portuguese Bend, and Southern California Edison cut power to about 140 homes there and about 105 homes in nearby Seaview, all because of land movement.
Beyond the active slide area, many Peninsula homes sit on graded lots where fill soil can settle over time. That is slower and smaller than a landslide, but it affects pipe in similar ways.
What does movement do to a sewer line?
- Separated joints. Rigid pipe sections pull apart, leaving gaps where soil enters and wastewater leaks out.
- Offsets. One section shifts higher or lower than the next, creating a ledge that catches debris.
- Bellies. A section sinks and holds standing water.
- Cracks and crushing. Stress concentrates at weak points and breaks the pipe.
- Stressed connections. The rigid joint at the main does not move with the lateral.
Why are leaks more urgent near moving ground?
Water is a major factor in landslide movement, and the City has installed dewatering wells in the slide area to remove groundwater. A leaking sewer line adds water to the soil. The City has also said it wants to stabilize the Abalone Cove sewer system because a sewage discharge could harm the shoreline of the Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve. Stopping leaks quickly is part of being a good neighbor to the slope.
Which sewer systems serve the slide area?
Not all of them are the same. The City notes that a small share of homes use approved septic systems or the City-run Abalone Cove collection system rather than the County-maintained network, and it has studied alternatives to below-ground sewer service in the land-movement area. Owners in Portuguese Bend and Abalone Cove should first confirm which system serves their lot.
How are repairs handled?
- Film the line with a sewer camera inspection and keep the video for comparison.
- Check the City's current permit and building rules for the area before planning work.
- Discuss flexible materials and connections, such as continuous HDPE, that tolerate movement better than rigid jointed pipe.
- Re-inspect after periods of noticeable movement, even if drains seem fine.
WarningIf sewage is surfacing on a slope, stop water use and call immediately. Saturated soil is the last thing an unstable hillside needs.
For a citywide view of repair options, see our sewer line repair guide for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
What should owners near the slide area watch for?
- New cracks in slabs, walls, driveways or the yard.
- Doors and windows that start sticking.
- Drains that slow or gurgle without an obvious cause.
- Wet ground or odor along the sewer route.
- A pump alarm, where any plumbing relies on a pump.
Any of these is worth noting with a date and photo. Combined with periodic camera inspections, that record helps contractors and the City understand how movement is affecting your property over time.
Why does record-keeping matter so much here?
In areas with ongoing movement, the condition of a sewer line can change between one season and the next. A dated video from each inspection, photos of new cracks, and copies of any permits or repair invoices create a timeline that is valuable to contractors, insurers and the City. It shows whether a problem is new or long-standing, how fast it is developing, and whether earlier repairs are holding. Store those records with your property documents, and bring them to every new contractor so they start from the full picture rather than a single visit.
Land movement FAQs
Can my sewer line break from land movement even if I am not in the slide area?
Yes. Settling fill on graded lots can cause sags and offsets anywhere. The effect is usually slower than in the active slide area.
Are there special permit rules in the landslide area?
Yes. The City has special rules for the land-movement area. Confirm current requirements with the City before planning work.
What pipe holds up best in moving ground?
Flexible, continuous pipe and flexible connections are often recommended. Your contractor and the City can advise for your lot.
Should I inspect my line after a period of movement?
Yes. Comparing a new video with an earlier one shows whether joints have separated.