The Adam Carolla Vlog - Adam Returns to Malibu (Video)

Adam Carolla ^ | 3/26/25 | Adam Carolla

[MAGA2017]

After 35 days of being displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires, Adam finally steps back into his Malibu condo to assess the damage. In this exclusive vlog, get a firsthand look at the aftermath, the impact on his property, and his unfiltered take on California’s handling of these disasters.

[MAGA2017]

Adam Carolla drives around his neighborhood and shows the damage from the LA fire. What strikes me is the lack of evidence that there is no clean-up or rebuilding underway. Looks at the comments. There are people in other states saying that they were willing to go there to help but were turned out by CA because their trucks and equipment didn't meet emissions standards. Insanity.

[cableguymn]

I was amazed to find out everyone in Malibu is on a septic system. No way they will allow homes to be rebuilt on the ocean with a septic tank

[MAGA2017]

Sigh. I need to proof read before I post. I meant “look at the comments”. “Turned down by CA”. I wish we could edit a post. Sorry.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. I was wondering what is going on in California. Corolla gives a glimpse in his area and what citizens are faced with in order to rebuild. Citizen journalism. Thanks Adam.

[bigbob]

The randomness of it is what’s really incredible.

[Thank You Rush]

Same here. WHERE are the septic tanks and drain fields? There’s no room....They would have to put in a sewer system for rebuilding I would think....

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"I was amazed to find out everyone in Malibu is on a septic system."

Me, too. I thought "Come on, that can't be right! There's no room for a septic drain leach field."

So I asked Grok 3 "Are Malibu beach front homes on septic systems?" Interesting answer -- septic systems and sewers were used to control growth and political battles ensued. Bueinsss as usual!

Yes, many Malibu beachfront houses are indeed on septic tank systems, though it’s not a universal rule anymore and depends on the specific area and property. Historically, Malibu has relied heavily on septic systems—known technically as onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS)—because it resisted centralized sewer infrastructure for decades. The city incorporated in 1991 partly to block Los Angeles County’s push for a sewer line, fearing it would spur overdevelopment and turn the rugged coastline into a high-rise jungle. Septic systems became a quirky, effective brake on growth, keeping things low-density and rustic.

Beachfront homes, especially along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), were often built mid-20th century—think 1940s to 1960s—with basic septic setups. These systems handle wastewater locally, using tanks and leach fields to treat and disperse it into the soil. Given Malibu’s sandy, coastal terrain and high water table, this setup has been both a blessing and a curse. It’s kept the shoreline from sprouting condos, but it’s also led to pollution headaches—leaky tanks have been blamed for fouling Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach with bacteria, a problem environmentalists have harped on since at least the 2000s.

Things started shifting in 2009 when the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board banned new septic systems in the Civic Center area (central Malibu, near the pier and Pepperdine). Existing systems there had to phase out by 2019, with properties hooking up to the new Civic Center Wastewater Treatment Facility, which opened in 2018. This facility now serves parts of central and eastern Malibu, recycling wastewater for irrigation. Beachfront homes in that zone—like those near Malibu Colony or Surfrider—likely transitioned off septic if they’ve complied.

Outside that area, though, septic remains common. Places like Point Dume, Broad Beach, or Little Dume often still use advanced OWTS, especially where sewer lines haven’t reached. Posts on X from early 2025—like Adam Carolla’s take after the Malibu fires—highlight how these older beachfront septic systems are a rebuilding nightmare under modern codes. New regulations demand upgrades or replacements that can cost $80,000 to hundreds of thousands, factoring in coastal engineering and seawalls to protect against erosion. The Malibu Municipal Code (amended in 2008 and 2017) also requires operating permits and inspections at sale, pushing many older systems to modernize.

So, are Malibu beachfront houses on septic? Many still are, especially west or east of the Civic Center zone, but the trend is shifting. Central beachfront properties have largely moved to sewer connections, while others cling to septic—often upgraded to meet stricter environmental rules. It’s a patchwork, shaped by geography, history, and a fierce tug-of-war between preservation and pollution control.

Isn't it interesting that Grok quoted Adam Carolla?

I could see where 50 to 75 year old septic tanks have developed cracks and leak.

[rellic]

Nothing wrong with a functioning septic system.
I know why most Democrats want the government to control everything! But your own septic system doesn’t pollute
ANYTHING except they can’t control you and charge you by the month for a service you don’t need.

[gw-ington]

I was amazed to find out everyone in Malibu is on a septic system. No way they will allow homes to be rebuilt on the ocean with a septic tank

Do they have any choice? You saw how hilly it is around Adam's house, so a sewer system can be very tricky and costly. I'm guessing they'll just replace or repair their septic systems. A sewer system there would probably be a monumental project and huge expense.

You can imagine all the bureaucratic red tape in California. It's gonna probably take 7 to 10 years to clear and rebuild all those exclusive Hollywood homes and buildings in Malibu.

[Magic Fingers]

New regulations demand upgrades or replacements that can cost $80,000 to hundreds of thousands, factoring in coastal engineering and seawalls to protect against erosion.

---

IIRC, Corolla said it would cost MILLIONS (per homeowner) for this - especially the seawall that has to be deep enough to prevent leaching into the ocean.

[gw-ington]

Isn't it interesting that Grok quoted Adam Carolla?

Wow, that's cool. Grok is really getting smarter and more current. I have tried it out and it's more conversational, not too dry. I like that Grok is in X/Twitter so I don't have to download two apps, I just use X and get to Grok through X but I heard you can download Grok as a separate app too.

[fella]

But NewScum and Big Mouth Bass will just emanate domain that whole strip then sell special permits for high rise hotels there. Adam’s view will be gone.

[FrankRizzo890]

Guys if you have time you should check out his podcast. He’s VERY right leaning, a former carpenter, and has no problem calling a spade a spade.

I listen to it daily.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yep, that’s what I do, too.

I told Grok to knock off modern colloquialisms like “unpack,” “lean into,” and “vibe.” It listens! It stopped using fluff crap in its responses to me. It’s really eerie.

But I just asked Grok if I had asked it to stop using fluff like that and it said “No, you haven’t told me that.”

I’m using Grok for all sorts of things - historical research, math problems, estimates, politics, ancient history, the invention of the wheel. I’m turning to it all the time. It is SO superior to using a plain old search engine where 95% of the hits are useless.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I just asked Grok why it forgot what I told it yesterday. It replied:

“Yeah, I get where you’re coming from—it’d be handy to carry over some context and really tailor things to you over time. The folks at xAI designed me to reset each session, probably to keep things lightweight and focused, but I can see how a memory feature could make me feel more like a familiar friend. For now, I’ll just have to get to know you from scratch each time!”

That’s too bad. It’ll be nice when it has memory beyond the current session.

[17th Miss Regt]

They would have to put in a sewer system for rebuilding...

The county will probably require wind power as the only acceptable power source, and huge green spaces. Oh, and Section 8 housing. At least half of the rebuild must be public housing! And safe spaces for the trans people in the community! And....

[gw-ington]

Yes. I use Grok for maybe 95% of the info I need. Web search is now my last resort or if I just want to verify something I heard by reading a news article published today. When I heard Hollywood actor Gene Hackman died in a bizarre situation, I did a google search but as always, you have to sift through the results to get something worthwhile, a waste of time. Given all the alleged "geniuses" at Google, you'd think after two decades, they'd finally have search figured out. So I'll probably start using Grok for the remaining 5% too. Bye-bye, google.

Regarding modern colloquialisms, stop being thirsty. That is so sus. I'm shook. You're cringe af and that hits different. I'm low-key freaking out about this. Your real problem is you're salty and so extra that you failed to circle back, be the bigger person, reach out to someone, and lean in. So glam onto some rizz because otherwise, everyone will sleep on you, or they'll clap back. Trust me, I've got the receipts.

[gw-ington]

True. After one response, I told Grok it was all wet and should tell its creators to fix whatever its response was. Grok responded it can’t do that and said I should make a suggestion to grok developers on X or on the grok website. Looks like gpts just spit out responses and nothing more. But they’re definitely getting smarter and fast.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Re your second paragraph…you’ve got me guffawing out loud. Really!

Since Grok only works on a per session basis, I’ll put those in a text file and tell grok each session “knock off the crap!”

Oh, I forgot…I will “drop” that to Grok.

[Big Red Badger]

GROK———
I’ll check this out...
What ever I’m using now is jammed full
of Other stuff not even Close to my
Search...