While the entire country battles with COVID-19, Douglas Lipps a mechanical engineer says he has learned in his nearly 42-year career in wastewater that, with change comes new opportunity. “Developments in technology is allowing us to continue operating even with the coronavirus,” explained Lipps. “The computer technology allows humans to do their jobs under ever-changing conditions.” Lipps explains that in the last couple of years, the wastewater industry has been changing at a rapid speed with…
Category: Sewer
The SFPUC’s Stormwater Management Ordinance Turns 10 Years Old
This May, the SFPUC’s Stormwater Management Ordinance (SMO) celebrated its ten-year anniversary. This is exciting to celebrate, though one might wonder why. Every year, billions of gallons of rainwater flows into the City’s combined sewer system where stormwater is combined with wastewater from our toilets, bathtub drains, and sinks into one system that collects and…
Meet Local Students Who Became Drain Heroes
A few weeks before shelter-in place was mandated in San Francisco, Kelly Newman, a science teacher for middle and high school students at St. John’s Academy, adopted several drains close to the school as part of the SFPUC’s Adopt a Drain Program. An advocate for watershed programs, Newman wanted to teach her students awareness about ecosystems, the environment, ground water, and wastewater. “It is so important to me to educate students…
Meet Stephen Robinson, the SFPUC’s New-ish Wastewater Enterprise Capital Programs Director
Stephen Robinson is no stranger to the SFPUC. As the new Wastewater Enterprise Capital Program Director, Robinson doesn’t think of his job as merely a title but as an opportunity to steer the agency forward towards a more sustainable future. “Five words for me in a title is just too many,” Robinson said through laughter….
Meet Steven Trang, Who Has Used His Voice as a Translator in the City’s COVID-19 Response
A general laborer from the SFPUC’s Sewer Operations Division never thought his ability to speak four languages would ever come in so handy. Steven Trang has been supporting the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for the City and County of San Francisco, activated in response to COVID-19 as a translator stationed at local food banks. In…
How to Help Protect the Environment During the Pandemic
Last week, Mayor London Breed put an order for workers and residents – in fact, for everyone – in San Francisco to wear face coverings when they are outside of their homes for essential needs, including waiting in line for or inside of a grocery store or on public transportation. Most people are already wearing…