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SF Water Division Makes a Super Bowl Save at the Palace of Fine Arts

At a recent commission meeting, Rec & Parks honored the SF Water Division including Bill Teahan, Steve Quinn, Greg Hubley, Ryan Murphy, Brenden Mattias, Joe Lopez, Frank Cervantes, and Alex Bell.
At a recent commission meeting, Rec & Parks honored the SF Water Division including Bill Teahan, Steve Quinn, Greg Hubley, Ryan Murphy, Brenden Mattias, Joe Lopez, Frank Cervantes, and Alex Bell.
  • Lydia Chan

Picture this: 7:30 pm, the night before a major international event. The phone rings with the news a utility manager doesn’t want. “We have a leak behind the Palace of Fine Arts. We need help.” The answer: “Got it, we’re on the way.”

There’s no hesitation or panic in that response. That’s because Bill Teahan, manager of the San Francisco Water Division, knows his team does their best work under pressure and in a time crunch. The fact that it happened during Super Bowl weekend, the night before the league’s annual awards show in which celebrities, athletes, and musicians were scheduled to perform? Not a big deal.  

As crews were loading cameras and sound equipment into the Palace of Fine Arts – did we mention that the show, the NFL Honors, would be broadcast on national TV? – gateman Steve Quinn arrived immediately to assess the leak and coordinate with San Francisco Recreation & Parks, which manages the venue’s grounds.

Since Steve initially thought that it was an issue with a sewer line, Wastewater joined with a team and a Vac-Con truck. They later discovered that the leak originated from a 2.5-inch water line break. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's (SFPUC) standby crew comprised of a foreman and several plumbers brought in a backhoe and truck and worked into the wee hours of the morning to make the repair. They then coordinated with the SF Fire Department to turn all the valves back on, ensuring that the water pipes and sprinkler system would be fully functional for the event.  

“Our teams are highly trained and proven in high-pressure situations. They know how to collaborate effectively with other City agencies, and they deliver when it matters most, said Bill Teahan. "Also, go Niners!”  

Thanks to the Water Division’s hard work and partnership, the Palace of Fine Arts successfully hosted the NFL Honors and concerts by Sting and The Killers during Super Bowl weekend in February. The crews who led the response were recognized at a recent Rec & Parks Commission meeting for their efforts and cross-departmental coordination. Thank you to all for stepping up to ensure San Francisco was ready for the spotlight!