Special thanks to our essential workers who have continued to operate, maintain and upgrade our system during the pandemic. Our homes, businesses and quality of life would not be the same without you. You are our mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, relatives and neighbors – you are our heroes!
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About the SSIP
Addressing the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow
Now more than ever, we are seeing the importance of upgrading and hardening our critical but aging sewer system in the face of extreme weather and climate change.
Smart Investments Now Save Money in the Long Run
The longer these upgrades are delayed, the more expensive they become. Making these investments today avoids more costly emergency repairs, potential regulatory fines, and greater impacts on our communities.
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
Our combined sewer system, which treats both sanitary sewage from homes and buildings and stormwater when it rains, is over 100 years old. Upgrades to modernize our system will ensure we can continue to protect public health and our environment for generations to come. Our vision is to evolve from pollution treatment to resource recovery and reuse.
Preparing for the Next Big Earthquake
In San Francisco, it’s not a matter of it, it is a matter of when our next big earthquake will strike. New facilities are being built to modern seismic standards to ensure we can operate within 72 hours of a major seismic event.
Improving Stormwater Management and Expanding Green Infrastructure
Citywide we are building innovative green infrastructure projects that use sustainable methods to help slow down or reduce the amount of stormwater going into our sewer system during rainstorms, while also providing more public open spaces and beautified neighborhoods. Our goal is to sustainable manage over 1 billion gallons of stormwater annually by 2050 and we are well on our way.
Investing in at a Sustainable and Affordable Pace
As a ratepayer funded utility, rather than investor owned like PG&E, we must balance the need to invest in our aging system with the cost to our ratepayers. Ongoing condition assessments allow us to prioritize our investments, while low-interest loans from state and federal agencies will save over $1 billion long-term.
Projects
New Headworks Facility
We are investing over $2 billion to upgrade and modernize the aging Southeast Treatment Plant (SEP) to reduce odors, be better prepared for earthquakes and sea level rise, and ensure operational redundancy and efficiency.
Biosolids Digesters Facilities
We are investing over $2 billion to upgrade and modernize the aging Southeast Treatment Plant to reduce odors, be better prepared for earthquakes and sea level rise, and ensure operational redundancy and efficiency.
Westside Pump Station Reliability Improvements Project
The Westside Pump Station (WSS) is an all-weather facility that pumps the sanitary and stormwater flow from the West side of the City to the Oceanside Treatment Plant. The WSS and associated facilities have been in service for numerous decades in the harsh marine environment. The aging mechanical and electrical infrastructure must operate daily to maintain water quality requirements.
5th, North 6th, Division, and Sansome Streets CSD Rehabilitation Project
Rehabilitate four Combined Sewer Discharge (CSD) structures and install backflow preventers and monitoring sensors to keep seawater from entering the City's combined sewer system during high tide conditions.
Cargo Way Sewer Box Odor Reduction Project
As part of citywide infrastructure investments, the Cargo Way Box Sewer Odor Reduction Project completed sewer system improvements to reduce odors on 3rd Street, between the Levon Hagop Nishkian Bridge and Cargo Way, and on Cargo Way, between 3rd and Mendell Streets.
