The Emergency Firefighting Water System (also known at the Auxiliary Water Supply System or AWSS), is an independent high-pressure water supply system dedicated to fire protection. Built in 1913 in response to the 1906 Great Earthquake, the system consists of a 135-mile pipeline network, a high elevation reservoir, two large capacity tanks, two pumping stations,…
Category: Infrastructure
A Look Back in History: Stone Dam
Stone Dam, established in 1871, is located in the Pilarcitos Creek Watershed. It was built for the same purpose and about two miles downstream from Pilarcitos Dam. The purpose of both, to collect and send water to a thirsty San Francisco. The Dams were built by Spring Valley Water Company (known as Spring Valley Water…
What is P2 Week and What Does it Mean?
Every year, Pollution Prevention week, also known as “P2 Week,” is held every third week of September. For the SFPUC, this means another opportunity to educate the community about doing their part in reducing or preventing pollutants in the environment. The SFPUC’s Pollution Prevention Program aims to reduce the amount of pollutants entering the City’s…
San Francisco Legacy Business Veritable Vegetable Enrolls in CleanPowerSF’s SuperGreen Program
Veritable Vegetable, a San Francisco-based organic produce distributor, has become the first Legacy Business to enroll in CleanPowerSF’s SuperGreen program, which provides 100 percent renewable energy service. The SFPUC operates CleanPowerSF, which offers two choices for cleaner energy. The Green service program is 48 percent renewable, and the SuperGreen service is 100 percent renewable. As…
SFPUC Receives 2019 President’s Award for Excellence at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium
A collaborative of water and wastewater utilities and public health agencies from across the nation and chaired by the SFPUC has received the President’s Award for Excellence for the group’s leadership in advancing onsite water reuse. The award was announced at the 34th annual WateReuse Symposium held this week in San Diego. As a pioneer…
San Francisco Issues $2.5 Billion Offer Letter for Purchase of PG&E Assets
Last week, the City and County of San Francisco submitted a $2.5 billion offer letter to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for purchase of the company’s electricity assets in San Francisco. The offer letter was the result of an eight-month process, which began in January when Mayor London N. Breed directed the SFPUC to…