With the official start of the wet weather season on October 15, it’s time to revisit what San Franciscans can do to prepare and a few updates on what the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has been doing: the agency’s Storm Watch team tracks the weather and checks low-lying neighborhoods on a regular basis,…
Category: Sewer
Stormwater Schoolyards: Joining the Fight to Protect Our Sewer Infrastructure
San Francisco’s combined sewer system treats both the wastewater from our homes and offices, and the stormwater that falls from the sky (approximately 10 billion gallons a year) and lands on our paved surfaces when it rains. By leveraging a public-private partnership approach, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is well on its way…
The SFPUC Reminds You – Do Not Flush ‘Flushable’ Wipes
This month, General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Harlan Kelly, Jr. sent a letter of support for a legislation that is close to heart for the agency: If passed, the legislation would require flushable wipe makers to include proper labeling on wipes packaging. This is a topic very closely monitored by…
Urban Watershed Stewardship Grant Funds Garden Spaces Across San Francisco
The SFPUC recently awarded Urban Watershed Stewardship Grants to two local nonprofits: Climate Action Now and San Francisco Parks Alliance. Each year, the SFPUC’s Urban Watershed Stewardship Grant provides funding for community-based projects which help manage stormwater using ecologically based designs known as “green infrastructure (GI)”. GI is a set of engineered, sustainable stormwater management tools…
How to Stay Ahead of Pollution
The SFPUC’s Pollution Prevention Program held a workshop last May to discuss Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs). Simply put, the CECs are the many different kinds of chemicals such as traces of medicines, personal care or household cleaning products, lawn care and agricultural products, among others. These can be detected in water ways, such as…
Completion of Baker Beach Green Streets Project Will Help Manage 2.6 Million Gallons of Stormwater Each Year
For the SFPUC, green infrastructure projects like Baker Beach Green Streets represent the future of San Francisco. Green infrastructure projects help manage the City’s stormwater more efficiently and sustainably, while also making communities more connected and livable. Completion of the Baker Beach Green Streets project and a series of green infrastructure improvements will help manage…