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AGM Joel Prather Shows Where It All Goes During Tour of Southeast Plant

AGM Joel Prather Shows Where It All Goes During Tour of Southeast Plant
  • Idil Bereket

The Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant is the "it" place to be this summer. After a seven-year hiatus, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has resumed public tours of the plant that treats 80 percent of San Francisco’s wastewater. The first public tour took place on July 18, with two more scheduled for August and September – both filled up already!  

The tour guide is none other than Joel Prather, Assistant General Manager for the Wastewater Enterprise. “Our goal with the tours is to show the public how our sewer system protects public health and our environment and the amazing work our Wastewater team does 24/7 with ratepayer dollars,” said Joel. 

Supporting Joel on the tour was George Engel, Enterprise Capital Planning Division Manager, sharing his knowledge with the public from his years of experience with the plant and the Wastewater Enterprise, and his passion for his work. 

We asked tour registrants why they wanted to take a tour. Here are excerpts from their responses: “Curious as an SF resident how my city works” … “Sounds fascinating” … “Live in the local area and passionate about infrastructure generally” … “I love infrastructure and I love SF :)”.

Joel explained San Francisco's combined sewer system, its history, and how San Francisco’s geography shapes it. he also covered the smart investments the SFPUC has been making for decades to continually improve and upgrade our system to better protect public health and the environment. He then led participants around the plant, following the stages of wastewater treatment from where it enters the plant, to where clean water is discharged to the bay, to where solids are treated to produce a renewable resource called biosolids. Joel explained what we mean by “bugs” (microorganisms that help break down liquid and solid waste) and “cake” (treated biosolids ready to be used as valuable fertilizer). 

One July 18 tour participant shared on their LinkedIn: "Great tour! Thanks for sharing insights and innovation. WW plants do so much to help with quality of life. Key message: Don't flush wipes!" Another complimented, “I finally got to see what happens behind the scenes after I flush my toilet in San Francisco… let me tell y’all it’s a pretty impressive infrastructure and facility we have set up in this magical city…”. 

After September, tours will go into hibernation for the winter and will resume in spring 2026.