FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2026
SFPUC Contact:
communications@sfwater.org
SFPUC Marks Infrastructure Week, Highlighting Projects That Keep San Francisco Running
Major investments support reliable water, power, and sewer systems for the next century
SAN FRANCISCO – As Infrastructure Week 2026 brings national attention to the infrastructure that keeps communities running, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is highlighting major projects that strengthen the essential water, clean power, and sewer systems San Francisco relies on every day.
“Infrastructure Week is a chance to remember that every glass of water, every light switch, and every flush depends on skilled workers, careful planning, and thoughtful investment,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “The SFPUC remains committed to maintaining the foundational systems that San Franciscans rely on every day, improving those systems for today’s needs, and preparing them for the next generation.”
Mountain Tunnel Improvements: Protecting a Critical Regional Water System
The 19-mile Mountain Tunnel is a vital part of the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, which delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people and thousands of businesses across four Bay Area counties: San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.
Approximately 85% of the water the SFPUC serves its customers comes from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. All of the water coming from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir must pass through Mountain Tunnel. There are two powerhouses on each side of the tunnel -- Kirkwood upstream and Moccasin downstream -- that generate 100% greenhouse gas-free hydroelectric power. Water flows entirely by gravity through the tunnel.
After nearly a century of operation, portions of the tunnel have deteriorated and need major rehabilitation. The Mountain Tunnel Improvement Project has repaired the tunnel lining, improved access for maintenance crews, and is now completing construction of a new flow control valve facility that will help the SFPUC better manage the volume of water moving through the tunnel. The work will help protect water quality, improve water flow, and maintain the tunnel so it can continue serving the public for another 100 years.
Because the tunnel must be drained and taken out of service for crews to work inside it, the project is being completed over multiple years during winter shutdowns when water demand is lowest. Construction began in January 2021 and is scheduled for completion in January 2027.
Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project: Securing Clean Power for San Francisco
Through CleanPowerSF, the agency’s community choice energy program, the SFPUC is securing long-term clean energy resources that are part of the broader infrastructure needed to provide reliable, affordable, and carbon-free electric service for 385,000 San Francisco customers.
The SFPUC recently secured its largest-ever single source of wind power through a new agreement for electricity produced by the Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project in Merced County. Gonzaga Ridge will provide 147.5 megawatts of clean wind energy and 50 megawatts of battery storage. The project is expected to generate enough electricity each year to power about 120,000 average San Francisco homes.
The battery system will store energy for use when demand is higher, helping support reliability and affordability for San Francisco customers. The agreement adds more renewable power to CleanPowerSF’s long-term energy portfolio and supports San Francisco’s clean energy goals.
West SoMa, Panhandle and Inner Sunset Large Sewer Improvements: Upgrading 100-Year-Old Sewers
Some of San Francisco’s most important infrastructure sits directly under city streets. Since October of 2025, the West SoMa, Panhandle and Inner Sunset Large Sewer Improvements Project has been rehabilitating existing 100-year-old sewer mains and sewer laterals in several neighborhoods. Most of the work is being completed using a method known as cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation, which allows crews to rehabilitate sewer pipes while reducing disruption to the public by limiting the need for open-trench excavation of city streets. In some locations, street excavation is still required. The project is replacing aging sewer infrastructure to improve the reliability of San Francisco’s critical sewer system, while sewer service continues during construction. The work is expected to be completed in fall 2026.
National Recognition
The SFPUC’s infrastructure work is also earning national recognition. The agency recently received its fourth Envision Award in the last six years from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, this time for the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant Ozonation Project, which is adding ozone treatment to improve the quality of our drinking water for our customers.
Other award-winning Envision projects include the Headworks and Biosolids Digester Facilities at the Southeast Treatment Plant (2019, 2022), as well as the Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility (2025).
About Infrastructure Week
Infrastructure Week is an annual nationwide week of advocacy led by United for Infrastructure, a coalition that supports continued investment in America’s infrastructure. The week highlights the importance of continued investment in roads, rail, water systems, broadband, ports, and other essential infrastructure. Infrastructure Week 2026 runs from May 18 to May 22.
About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets 75% of the electricity demand in San Francisco with clean energy. The SFPUC’s mission is to provide customers with high-quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests, and sustains the resources entrusted to the agency's care. Learn more at sfpuc.gov.