Sewer Upgrades in San Francisco

PARKING: Street parking will be restricted in the project area during construction hours. “No-parking” signs will be posted 72 hours in advance. Please see posted signs for exact workdays, hours, locations, as they may vary depending on construction task.

SEWER AND WATER SERVICES in the area will NOT be interrupted during construction.

TRAFFIC: Street closures in the project area will be necessary to ensure safety of workers and the public. Advance notice and detour signage will be provided.

ACCESS: Follow posted signage on site. Businesses and residents in the work zone may experience limited or no access to driveways and garages when excavation work is in progress adjacent to your driveway. Attempts will be made to advise residents to move vehicles in and out at particular hours to ensure work site safety for crew and the public. If feasible, crews will facilitate access to driveways and entrances during construction.

NOISE: Neighbors may hear construction noise periodically. Noisy work will be conducted in compliance with the San Francisco Noise Ordinance.

ODORS: If necessary, odor control measures will be in place during construction.

CURED-IN-PLACE-PIPE (CIPP): CIPP is a trenchless sewer rehabilitation method that requires insertion of a synthetic pipe liner into the sewer pipe through existing manholes or similar access points. This process uses a resin-saturated felt tube to line the inside of the existing pipe. Vapor and odors can be released during the resin curing process, which includes heating, curing and cool down. Each segment typically requires two to three days of continuous 24/7 to complete but can vary depending on the size of the pipe.

SEWER LATERALS

You can reduce the risk of sewer backups.
Keep your upper and lower sewer laterals in good condition.

How to Protect your Property and Environment?
Never let fats, oils or grease go down the drain; compost it instead. Dumping grease down the drain can clog the sewer pipes, result in back-ups or overflows onto your property or streets, foul odors, and costly damage to sewer infrastructure.

Remember that your toilet is an only-human-waste-and-toilet-paper-zone. Nothing, except the 3 P’s (pee, poop and toilet paper), go down the drains. 

Upper Lateral Responsibility:
The upper sewer lateral is an extension of your home, even if you can’t see it, which means you're fully responsible for it. That’s why we encourage property owners to inspect and keep their lateral clear of trash, grease and other materials (anything except human waste or toilet paper) that can clog and damage pipes. Property owners are responsible for maintenance, including clearing and jetting the pipe to keep the pipe clear and in good working order.

If the pipe is found in bad condition, property owners must also repair and replace according to latest San Francisco Plumbing Codes. Check out the Sewer Lateral Standards for property owners, contractors or developers.

Lower Lateral Responsibility:
You are responsible for maintaining it, including clearing and jetting the pipe to keep it clear and in good working order by regularly clearing it or inspecting it using Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) to identify any defects. And of course, by not putting trash, grease, cooking oil, or other materials down household drains.

Please notify lower lateral issues and any potential need to repair or replace it to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) by calling 3-1-1 or submitting a service request online at sf311.org.

https://www.sfpuc.gov/learning/emergency-preparedness/sewer-laterals

ODORS during Cured-In-Place-Pipe (sewer lining process)

If weather permits, close your windows during the work. To help reduce odors that may travel through the lateral pipes, run water in all sinks and drains to make sure p-traps are filled (p-traps are the “u” shape portion of drain pipes). Drains can also be covered with a wet towel.

This sewer rehabilitation method uses resin to provide the structural rigidity needed to
rehabilitate the pipe. These resins can give off an odor during the curing process. These odors typically
dissipate fairly quickly after the process is completed. We continue to evaluate industry best-practices and
new technologies, including non-styrene-based resins to further reduce the impact of our work.

https://www.sfpuc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CIPL_Information_Factsheet_2025.pdf

SFPUC Sewer Communications 415-554-3233 or ssip@sfwater.org

Emergencies

If you are experiencing a water, power, or sewer emergency or service problem call our 24-hour hotline at 3-1-1 or log on at sf311.org.

Can't find any information about the work on your street?

• The project could be a joint project co-managed with other City agencies. For SFMTA led projects, please visit sfmta.com/projects. For SFDPW projects, please visit sfpublicworks.org/projects. 
• It is possible the work is in response to an emergency water, water main breaks, or sewer line repair. 
• It could be a short-term project of less than a 15 days duration. 
• The work may be sewer inspection and cleaning or sewer repair.
• SFPUC posts a schedule of planned night work.
• The work may be a P, G & E Utility project.
• The work may be private development construction.
• The parking restrictions posted on A-frames will show the name of the contractor and contact info.