Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Sign up for SFPUC's new Digital Currents Newsletter and Enter to Win Prize!


The SFPUC is proud to announce the launch of our online, digital Currents newsletter with our Jan/Feb issue. Sign up today and become eligible to win one of 100 sweatshop-free, fashionably fitted “I Love SF Water” t-shirts! Sign-up at: http://sfwater.org/newsletterform2.cfm//MC_ID/18/MSC_ID/429
In addition, learn how San Francisco is working to get clean power, how you can harvest rainwater and save energy and money!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Happy Holidays from the SFPUC


On behalf of the Stanford Heights Reservoir and Mt Davidson Pump Station & Tank project teams and SFPUC staff, we wish you and your families a very Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
We are making progress on these important water infrastructure and seismic retrofit projects and will soon be finished. We appreciate your patience and support. Thank you.

Friday, December 18, 2009

New Video Highlights WSIP Progress

Here is a new video highlighting the progress we are making in rebuilding and seismically retrofitting the Hetch Hetchy water system.


Friday, December 4, 2009

Bench Dedication at Sutro Reservoir on December 2nd

Thank you to neighbors, Asian Neighborhood Design (AND) and SFPUC staff for a great bench dedication at Sutro Reservoir on Wednesday, December 2nd.

SFPUC General Manager Ed Harrington attended the dedication and joined neighbors and AND youth to acknowledge the beautiful benches and the dedicated youth who created them.

At your next visit to our Sutro Reservoir, we hope you enjoy a rest and the great view from the bench!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Please Join us! December 2nd Bench Dedication at Sutro Reservoir

You are cordially invited to join us for the Bench Dedication at Sutro Reservoir.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission dedication of Community Benches created byAsian Neighborhood Design (AND).

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009Time: 10:30 amLocation: Sutro Reservoir (located on Clarendon near Olympia)

Coffee and pastries will be provided. Please let us know if you can join us.If you have questions, please contact: Labor Relations & Community Programs:rsvp to Lihmeei Leu at 415-551-4538 or lleu@sfwater.org.

Minor Traffic Impact on Thomas More Way


Today crews will begin pipeline excavation for the San Andreas Pipeline No.3 Installation project along Thomas More Way through the San Francisco Golf Club. A minor traffic deviation will take place on Thomas More Way, specially in front of Saint Thomas More Catholic School. The deviation is scheduled to impact commuters this week only.
We are working with the school and other nearby institutions to minimize disruptions.


For more information on San Andreas Pipeline No.3 Installation, please visit www.sfwater.org/sanandreas3

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Repaving of Rockdale - UPDATE!

The San Francisco Dept of Public Works is planning to repave Rockdale between Isola and La Bica in December, possibly as early as December 1st, depending on weather and schedule.

Watch for posted 'no parking' signs and crews on the street soon!

Repaving of Agua Way will take place this Spring.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Bench Dedication at Sutro Reservoir on December 2nd

You are cordially invited to join us for the Bench Dedication at Sutro Reservoir.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission dedication of Community Benches created by
Asian Neighborhood Design (AND).

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Sutro Reservoir (located on Clarendon near Olympia)
Coffee and pastries will be provided. Please let us know if you can join us.
If you have questions, please contact: Labor Relations & Community Programs:
rsvp to Lihmeei Leu at 415-551-4538 or lleu@sfwater.org.

Friday, November 13, 2009

New Benches at Sutro Reservoir Thanks to AND

New benches were installed today near the perimeter walking path at Sutro Reservoir, located off of Clarendon near Olympia.

The new benches were created by Asian Neighborhood Design's (AND) youth employment program.

We hope neighbors enjoy them!

Repaving of Rockdale and Agua Way

The City will repave Rockdale Drive from Isola to La Bica and Agua Way from Teresita to Chaves in the near future. The San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) will do the paving work and have tentatively scheduled to repave Rockdale in December or early 2010 and Agua Way in Spring 2010.

Why the Delay? The reason for the delay is due to the requirement to contact other utility agencies and give them a chance to schedule work on Rockdale and Agua BEFORE we repave. We do not allow utilities to dig up the recently repaved street for a period of time, so we give them some time before to check their maintenance schedules and give them enough time to complete work if necessary.

Watch this blog for updates on the repaving plans.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Mt Davidson Pump Station Nearing Completion!

The new Mt Davidson Pump Station, located on Agua Way at La Bica, is nearing completion! The terracotta roof is finished and the new stylish doors were recently installed.

New landscaping has also been installed on the La Bica Path. We have asked the contractor to keep the path closed off until the new plants and shrubs grow and fill-in the path.

The heavy equipment and storage containers on Agua Way should be removed by late November.

Repairs to the sidewalks on Agua Way should be complete in the next few weeks. Repaving of Agua Way will take place in Spring 2010.

Thank you to neighbors for your patience and support during this important construction project. The new pump station will help ensure water delivery to thousands of San Franciscans after the next big earthquake.

Mt Davidson Tank Update

Much of the heavy work to revitalize the water storage tank on top of Mount Davidson is complete. Thank you to all trail and park users for your patience and support during this important project. The water storage tank and pipeline improvements will help to ensure water reliability after the next big earthquake.

The planting of natural grasses on the slope below the water tank will begin in late December.

Here is a recent photo from the La Bica trailhead.

Happy trails!

New Plants at Stanford Heights Reservoir

New plants are being installed this month around the perimeter of Stanford Heights Reservoir. New landscaping installation will continue at the site over the next month.
Once we complete landscaping and finish the new Mt Davidson Pump Station, located on Agua Way and La Bica, the chlorine building will get a much needed new coat of paint to match the new pump station.
In late winter/early spring, the hillsides behind the fence will begin to bloom with new native wildflowers.

Friday, October 23, 2009

San Andreas Pipeline No. 3 Installation In Full Construction

The pipeline installation mobilized this week at the intersection of Thomas More Way and Brotherhood Way. Crews will be crossing under this intersection on Monday, October 26th and will continue to Crespi Drive. SFPUC and Mountain Cascade, Inc. have coordinated efforts with Saint Thomas More Catholic School and Church and other nearby institutions in this area to minimize disruptions.

There will be continuous construction at the Crespi Drive round about circle accompanied by a bit that will be dug under Holloway Avenue to 19th Avenue.

Crews are also preparing to dig an additional bore pit at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Eucalyptus Drive. To comply with the City’s holiday construction moratorium, crews will cease construction in this area between the week of November 23, 2009 through the week of January 4, 2010. Construction will reconvene in mid-January 2010, with crews continuing to dig under Eucalyptus Drive to Merced Manor Reservoir.

Let us know how we can minimize disruptions or inconvenience. We look forward to working with you.

Workdays & Hours
Monday – Friday 7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
No construction will occur outside of these posted hours without advanced written notice.

More Information
Look for continuing updates about this project here.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Are You Ready for the Next Big Earthquake?

On October 21st, SFPUC staff shared important earthquake preparedness tips with neighbors at the Lakeshore Acres Neighborhood Association meeting.

The importance of storing water, preparing your house and being aware of potable water hydrants throughout San Francisco were discussed.

Be sure to store at least one gallon of water per person per day, to last at least 3 days. Store extra water for houseguests, pets and older neighbors who may need help after an earthquake.

The SFPUC recently published a new brochure with many great earthquake preparedness tips. The brochure is available on our website at http://www.sfwater.org/emergency

It has been over 20 years since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Now more than even, it is important to prepare yourself, your house, office and car so you can take care of yourself for at least the first 72 hours after a major earthquake or other disaster.

We are rebuilding our reservoir, pump stations and pipelines in San Francisco and throughout the region to prepare for that next big earthquake, which experts believe will happen in the next 30 years.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Water Temporarily Off on Agua Way on Tues, Oct 6th in morning

In order to connect the 2 inch and 4 inch pipes from the Mt Davidson Pump Station to the water main on Agua Way, the Water Department will temporarily turn off water to homes for a few hours on or around Tuesday, October 6th, most likely in the morning. A notice will be delivered to impacted homes. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience. The new pump station and pipes will help ensure water delivery after a major earthquake or disaster.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Native Wildflower Hydroseeding at Stanford Heights

Why is the hillside by the reservoir suddenly GREEN, you might be wondering? On October 1st, the contractor sprayed native wildflower seeds, through a process called hydroseeding, onto the hillside area around the Stanford Heights Reservoir. Early this Spring, you will start to see beautiful native wildflowers growing. The green color is a mixture of seeds, nutrients and mulch.

Landscaping Update: After a few delays with the irrigation system, the contractor will complete the irrigation lines soon and will begin landscaping the area in mid-October.

After landscaping is complete, we will paint the blue valves and the chlorine building next to them to help may Agua Way look great! New landscaping will go in front of the valves too.
Repaving of Agua Way will take place next Spring.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Join us at the Big Blue Bucket Eco Fair on Saturday, Sept 26th!

The SFPUC is GREEN with excitement to announce the 2nd annual




Saturday September 26th, 2009
10 A.M. to 2 P.M.


Jerrold Avenue @ Phelps Street in San Francisco

Learn how to go green, and turn your beautiful home blue!
Visit bigbluebucket.org for more information!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

San Andreas Pipeline No. 3 Installation Boring Pit on Crespi Drive

Project Summary

The San Andreas Pipeline No. 3 Installation will replace an aging pipeline, with a newly constructed 4 miles extension from Daly City to San Francisco.

In preparing for installation of the San Andreas Pipeline No. 3, crews will dig a pit to bore or drill an underground tunnel to make space for the new water pipeline.

The bore pit will be located at the Crespi Drive round-about circle in Parkmerced. Crews will bore under 19th Avenue to Holloway Avenue.


Crews will begin digging the pit in late September 2009. Boring is expected to be completed by the end of October 2009.


Workdays & Hours
Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
No construction will occur outside of these posted hours without advance written notice.


For more information on San Andreas Pipeline No. 3, please visit:

www.sfwater.org/sanandreas3

Monday, September 21, 2009

Thank you for Neighborhood Input

The SFPUC appreciates continued neighborhood input on the reservoir and pump station projects at Stanford Heights Reservoir and Mt Davidson Pump Station.

The landscaping phase is beginning and soon neighbors will see the addition of new native plants and bushes around the reservoir. Hydroseeding, which is a spray mix of wildflower seeds, will be added behind the new fence soon.

We appreciate many of our Agua Way neighbors meeting with us and Supervisor Elsbernd at the site recently to discuss alternatives for the area near the chlorine building and the blue valves. We will discuss options with our project team and follow up soon. The Water Department is making plans to repaint the chlorine building this fall to match the new pump station on Agua Way. Once we complete these projects by the end of the year, we believe the area will look great again.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Mt Davidson Pump Station Making Progress

The new water pumping station on Agua Way is making progress and the project team hopes to complete the project before the end of the year.

The new terracotta roof in nearly complete and the building will be painted soon.




The street work on Agua Way in front of the pump station will start up again around September 8th with Water Dept crews welding the pipes and finishing connections. The project team will make sure the plates on Agua are secured so not to cause noise from car traffic.
We realize the area does not look great due to the staging area and storage boxes but it is temporary and the materials will move soon - we promise. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

New Fence and Landscaping at Stanford Heights Reservoir

The contractor is making progress on the installation of the new fence around Stanford Heights Reservoir. We expect the reservoir project to be complete in early fall.

Several neighbors have voiced concerns about the height of the fence. The ten-foot fence is required by Homeland Security due to the fact this is a drinking water reservoir.

Landscaping work is taking place with the installation of many native, low-water-use plants and bushes.

As we near completion, we will install additional landscaping in front of the blue valves on Agua Way. Once landscaping is complete, we will paint the blue valves a better color so they blend into the hillside and tunnel. The nearby building to the left of the valves will also be repainted a similar color to the new pump station on Agua Way.

We expect the new pump station to be complete in December or early January.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Final Paving Work


This project is near completion. The contractor will be performing final paving on Christopher Drive from Clarendon to approximately 81 Christopher Drive starting Wednesday, July 15 to Friday, July 17 between 6:30 am and 5:30 pm. Traffic will be impacted while one lane of traffic will remain open.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Fence Installation Beginning this Summer

Installation of the new security fence around Stanford Heights Reservoir is beginning! New fence posts can be seen along Agua Way. It will be a 10 foot high, black vinyl-clad fence surrounding the reservoir.

The east reservoir basin retrofit work is nearing completion and will be placed back in service in early fall.

Friday, June 12, 2009

New Fence and Landscaping Coming to Stanford Heights Reservoir


The countdown to completion of the Stanford Heights Reservoir Seismic Retrofit project is beginning!
In summer 2009, residents can expect to see a new 10 foot security fence installed around the perimeter. New landscaping will be installed in late July/August to beautify the area. Native wildflower and grass seeds will be adding using 'hydroseeding' and colorful native plants and bushes will be planted.
Project completion is expected fall 2009!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tank Retrofit on top of Mt. Davidson Making Progress


The water tank retrofit project on top of Mt. Davidson is making progress and the majority of the work will be complete by the end of 2009. The pipeline installation project finished quickly and trails were reopened early. Soon neighbors and park enthusiasts will again enjoy the scenic vistas from the lookout area near the tank. The water tank retrofit will help ensure it can withstand the next major earthquake and continue to deliver water to neighborhoods and businesses.

Stanford Heights Reservoir Retrofit Moving Toward Completion


With the retrofit of the east reservoir basin almost complete, the project team feels the entire project will finish in Fall 2009. This summer, residents can expect to see installation of the new 10 foot fence around the perimeter of the property. A new retaining wall along the La Bica path will be installed in June. Landscaping is scheduled for early Fall and will include new drought-tolerate, native plants, grasses and flowers. The SFPUC will keep the neighborhood updated as we begin the countdown toward completion.

Mt. Davidson Pump Station Taking Shape!

Designed to resemble the style of homes in the neighborhood, the new, modern Mt. Davidson Pump Station on Agua Way has a new foundation, walls and a recently installed terracotta tile roof. Energy efficient pumps and equipment will be installed this summer. The project is expected to finish in late 2009.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

More Buzz About the Bees



Thanks for your comments and questions about the bees in Laguna Honda. We spoke with volunteer Peter Cook from the San Francisco Bee Keepers' Association and he explained that they have approximately 35 hives at the Laguna Honda site and do not plan to add more hives at this time.
The bees help to pollinate the plants at Laguna Honda and the nearby community garden. Peter welcomes questions and he is happy to talk with any curious neighbors or provide a tour.

For more information, visit the San Francisco Bee Keepers' Association website at http://www.sfbee.org/.




Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Bees a buzz

I checked out a neighbor's query about the bee hives along the back of Laguna Honda Reservoir. Apparently, The San Francisco Bee Keepers Association has applied for and received a permit to keep bees at Laguna Honda. A similar agreement has been in effect on the Peninsula Watershed for many years. If the association is interested, perhaps Peter Cook, with the SF Bee Keepers, could make a presentation at an upcoming meeting or respond to your questions or suggestions.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Join San Francisco Water on Facebook and Twitter!

March 22nd is U.N. World Water Day and nobody in the world has better water than San Francisco. In celebration of our incredible tap water and U.N. World Water Day, the SFPUC is giving away stainless steel water bottles so you can bring our great tasting tap water with you wherever you go!

To get your own stainless steel bottle, join us on Facebook during the week of March 22nd-29th by becoming a FAN of San Francisco Water on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/d3zxj5. (Log-in to your personal facebook account to view page).

The San Francisco Water Facebook page will be regularly updated with new photos, interesting videos, drought updates, water and energy conservation tips and more.

The first 1,000 San Francisco residents who become fans of San Francisco Water will be eligible to pick up a stainless steel water bottle after March 29. Pick up details will be announced on Facebook. Please help us spread the word by sending this to your friends and colleagues! Invite your network to join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow us on Twitter for more great SFPUC news. http://twitter.com/SFWater

Friday, March 13, 2009

Access and Parking Limitations on Agua Way on or around March 17th

A large concrete pumping truck will be required to place the concrete inside the wall forms of the new pump station on Agua Way near La Bica. The truck will be on site on or around Tuesday, March 17th, depending on weather.

Contractor NTK Construction will place “Road Closed to Through Traffic” signs at the intersections of both Agua at Teresita and Agua at Chaves.

A flag person will be onsite at Teresita at Agua to help direct traffic. Agua Way residents will have access to their driveways and the street. Some minor delays can be expected. “No Parking” signs will be posted on the reservoir side of Agua Way in advance.

Due to the amount of concrete to be poured, the contractor may need to work as late as 6:30pm.

Soil Stabilization and Equipment Safety Training at Summit Reservoir

Ground asphalt was recently spread on the dirt area near the Summit Reservoir walking path to help provide soil stabilization and tire traction for emergency vehicles. The site will also be used for period equipment safety training for our Water Department staff.

The Water Department coordinates required equipment training 'in-house' to train and certify employees on safe use of cranes and other equipment. We save thousands of dollars in taxpayer money by doing the training ourselves instead of hiring outside companies. We will periodically use Summit Reservoir for this training. Very little noise can be expected from the training and the walking path will remain open.

On or around March 30th and 31st, a small crane will be on site at Summit Reservoir and neighbors will notice Water Department staff and trainers using the crane. Additional training will take place in April and future months.

Feel free to stop by to say hello to our Water Department staff!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Moving soil near Laguna Honda Pond


Dear neighbors,

Thank you for your comments on the equipment and pile of soil located near the old Laguna Honda Reservoir. This SFPUC property is used as a staging area by the contractor for the Forest Knolls pump station project. We have instructed the contractor to clear out the dirt pile by mid-April as they will no longer need the soil after that. However, the equipment currently used for the pump station project will remain until late July 2009.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Minor water discoloration update


We received a few calls/emails from neighbors about minor water discoloration in the Forest Knolls area last week after the water transmission line connection work on February 18th. The Water Department took immediate action to correct the problem. Minor water discoloration, odor or taste differences can sometimes occur when water transmission mains are connected. We thank you for your continued support and apologize for the inconvenience.

The contractor is currently performing electrical and mechanical work inside the new pump station building on Christopher at Clarendon Avenue. Installation of new landscaping materials is anticipated to start within the next 60 days.

Traffic Calming Information

Neighbors on Agua Way have asked about traffic calming measures to address the ongoing problem of speeding car traffic.

The San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic can work with a neighborhood to research the best methods to decrease speeding car traffic. The first step is to contact them and complete an application to start the research process. The Department of Parking and Traffic will track car traffic to determine what traffic calming measures will help decrease speeding.

For more information and to complete an application for traffic calming research, visit the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic website: Traffic Calming Application and Information Link

New Palo Alto Pump Station Countdown to Completion


The new Palo Alto Pump Station is on the count down to completion. The contractor has been working tirelessly on the final phase of the project that includes completing the roofing and installing fencing and landscaping. Beautiful, tall bamboo trees have been planted and are expected to flourish and thicken quickly. The temporary pump station, located on Marview, will be removed soon. We expect final completion of the project in spring 2009.

THANK YOU for your patience during construction.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Response to Agua Way neighbors

Here are a few responses to neighbor questions from our February 7th community coffee:

Concerns about exposed blue pipes mid-block on Agua Way: the Water Dept will repaint them and work with neighbors to choose a better color. We cannot add wood slats to the fence but painting the pipes will help them blend in better.

Request for street repaving after projects: The streets are not on the Depart of Public Work's 5-year repaving list but given our inquiries they will be sending a staff person to review the streets for possible consideration for future street paving. The SFPUC contractor will repair areas that are damaged - both sidewalk and street.

Request for traffic calming on Agua Way: Many neighbors are concerned about speeding traffic on Agua Way. The SFPUC contacted the Department of Parking and Traffic and will provide information to neighbors about the process of applying for traffic calming measures.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Thank you for attending community coffee

Thank you to the neighbors in Miraloma Park who attended the February 7th community coffee.

We enjoy talking with you about the Stanford Heights Reservoir and Mt Davidson water projects and answering your questions.

We are more than half way through these projects and we look forward to the landscaping and beautification phase.

Feel free to contact us anytime with questions. Thanks, Amy Sinclair (asinclair@sfwater.org)

Monday, February 2, 2009

Community Coffee and Project Update February 7th

Come join us for coffee, light breakfast and information about the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's water improvement projects taking place in the Miraloma neighborhood. We will have project updates, landscaping information, 2009 garden calendars, free stainless steel water bottles (while supplies last), and a raffle!

When: Saturday, February 7th, 2009 from 9am - 11am
Where: Agua Way at La Bica by the Mount Davidson Pump Station

For more information:
415-551-4659, asinclair@sfwater.org

Welcome to the SFPUC District 7 Blog

Welcome to this community blog for District 7. Currently, we are focusing on water system improvements—active construction projects for a reservoir, pump stations and tanks in Miraloma and Midtown neighborhoods. We will add more projects as they break ground. Please let us know if the information we are providing is sufficient, how the contractors are performing, and other questions or suggestions you may have. This blog will provide 24/7 information about activities in the field. Our designated project contacts will be responding to your comments.