every drop counts - San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

EVERY DROP COUNTS
10% Voluntary Water
Reduction in Effect
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
Whales and Sharks in the
Sunol Valley?!
Construction crews at the Calaveras Dam Replacement
Project have uncovered a buried treasure, of sorts—more
than 600 fossil specimens that date back to when the area
was an ocean floor more than 20 million years ago.
Alongside the scallops and clams, crews have found teeth
from a megalodon shark (a giant ancestor of the modern
great white) and, most importantly for science, 10 whale skulls.
The fossil record from this period is limited, and these
abundant and diverse finds provide new insight into the
ancient environment of 20 million years ago. We will
work to preserve these fossils to make them available to
scientific research.
A paleontologist covers a whale skull in Plaster of Paris to
stabilize it for transport.
Scallop
Megaladon shark tooth
Ringing in the New Year with solar
Recent heavy rains still not enough
San Francisco’s newest municipal solar arrays, installed atop
City Hall and Thurgood Marshall High School, bring the
total number of solar systems generating electricity for City
facilities to 19. City Hall’s 80kW rooftop system and the
87kW system at Thurgood Marshall will generate more
than 248,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity—enough to
power 64 homes for one year. Both arrays are expected to be
online and producing clean electricity by January 2015.
While we welcome the recent
wet weather, California remains
in a drought and we need a
healthy Sierra snowpack—our
“largest reservoir”—to replenish
water supplies. Until then, we ask
customers to keep up efforts to
save water.
Our energy portfolio comprises 100% greenhouse gasfree Hetch Hetchy hydroelectricity, renewable solar
and renewable biogas power—one of the cleanest energy
mixtures in the
country. We’re also
the clean energy
utility for the City’s
municipal facilities
and residential and
business customers
at Hunters Point
Shipyard.
Outdoor water use restrictions
remain in effect. Don’t water when it’s raining, avoid
irrigation overspray and run off, and limit sidewalk and
hardscape washing. Also consider replacing old waterwasting showerheads, toilets, and clothes washers and
fixing leaks.
Learn more about
the City’s municipal
solar arrays and other
solar programs at
sfwater.org (select
“Environment”
then “Clean Energy”).
We can help! To learn more about free conservation
assistance visit sfwater.org/conservation.
Latest annual reports now available
Our 2013-14 annual report, with updates on our water
and wastewater system upgrades, advances in green power
initiatives, and more is now available at sfwater.org/PAFR.
Sewe
Our “city under the City”
Sewer pipeline replacement doubles
Since 2010, the SFPUC Wastewater Enterprise has
doubled the total miles of aging sewer pipeline
replaced from 6 miles per year to almost 13 miles
this past year.
“Since we have implemented our new sewer
assessment program, we have been able to pinpoint
problem areas quicker and prioritize sewer
replacement more readily,” says Lewis Harrison,
Sewer Collections System Division Manager.
We have also more than doubled the miles of
sewer pipeline cleaned from 75 miles in 2010 to
170 miles this past fiscal year.
Reusing that precious rain
Rainwater harvesting—
collecting the runoff from roofs or
other hard surfaces for reuse—
can reduce potable water
consumption and help you keep
your garden green during dry
times. It also maintains the
health and beauty of the City’s
urban watersheds by keeping
relatively clean water out of
our combined sewer system.
Lower flows reduce the energy
and chemicals we routinely have
to use in stormwater treatment—
and also the potential for overflows and flooding. For more
information, visit sfwater.org/rainwater.
Construction kicks off for WSIP’s last
pipeline project
The Peninsula Pipeline Seismic Upgrade project, upgrading
three Hetch Hetchy regional water delivery pipelines in four
different Peninsula cities, is now in construction. The
last pipeline project of our comprehensive Water System
Improvement Program (WSIP), it will ensure that these
critical water delivery links continue providing water to our
customers even after a major earthquake. Completion is
slated for December 2015.
Brick-lined sewers still make up about
25 miles of our historic 1000-mile system.
Free compost, classes, and more at garden
supply pop-ups
Approximately 30 Bayview
Hunters Point community
members showed up for the
first Bayview Garden Supply
Pop-up. Residents young
and old came to pick-up
free municipal “greenwaste”
compost and mulch, take
classes in soil health, waterwise gardening, and taste
Spilanthes acmella—also
known as paracress or the
“toothache plant” because it
numbs the tongue and mouth.
Neighborhood youth get
hands-on instruction.
Next pop-up:
Saturday, Jan. 17
Quesada Gardens, 3rd & Quesada
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Public tours of 525 Golden Gate
January 14, March 11
Reserve your place for an upcoming free bimonthly tour
of our new green headquarters at sfwater.org/explore.
Questions or special requests: 525ggtours@sfwater.org.
Currents is brought to you by
SFPUC Commission
Ann Moller Caen, President
Francesca Vietor, Vice President
Anson Moran, Commissioner
Vince Courtney, Commissioner
General Manager
Harlan L. Kelly, Jr.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission meets at 1:30 p.m. the second and fourth
Tuesdays of each month in Room 400 of San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett
Place. All Commission meetings are open to the public.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
525 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102 | sfwater.org
Crews install new
pipe in Millbrae.
Contact
Customer Services 415-551-3000
TDD Hearing/Speech Impaired 415-551-3052
Citywide Customer Service 311
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