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: Rain Ready
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…
While Shelter-In-Place Orders are in Effect, the SFPUC Stormwatch and Strike Teams Prepare for Rain
According to the National Weather Service, there is a good chance of rain this weekend and potentially through early next week. Even as residents are sheltering-in-place, the SFPUC is gearing up in preparation for the wet weather. So as most people are indoors, peering out of window sills, the SFPUC’s Stormwatch and Strike Teams are…
Crews Work Quickly to Fix Sewer Main Blockage at George Sterling Park
On December 17, the City’s 3-1-1 Customer Service Center received a call reporting “water leaking down some steps onto the street from an unknown source” at George Sterling Park. The park sits on a landscaped hilltop with paths, benches with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. “I dispatched crews out there asap to get eyes…
How to Safely Clean a Storm Drain
With over 25,000 storm drains and catch basins throughout San Francisco, the SFPUC offers a unique program that allows residents to take an active role in caring for and improving the neighborhood where they live and work. Launched in 2016, the Adopt a Drain Program lets San Francisco residents “adopt” one of the City’s storm…
Why Idil Bereket Named Her Drain “Duke the Lion Dog” and Leads Adopt a Drain SF
Keeping storm drains and catch basins clear of leaves and debris helps avoid flooding. It also enables stormwater to drain properly. Every bit of help counts and San Francisco residents are taking an active part by “adopting” drains in their neighborhood, helping to protect the environment and minimizing risk of flooding. For four years, the…