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SFPUC Highlights Critical Infrastructure Projects Supporting a Resilient, Sustainable San Francisco During Infrastructure Week

SFPUC workers at the Southeast Treatment Plant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 13, 2025

SFPUC Highlights Critical Infrastructure Projects Supporting a Resilient, Sustainable San Francisco During Infrastructure Week

 

SAN FRANCISCO – In celebration of Infrastructure Week (May 12–18, 2025), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is spotlighting major infrastructure investments across its water, power, and wastewater systems that are strengthening San Francisco’s climate resilience, public safety, and long-term sustainability.  

These essential projects reflect the agency’s continued commitment to providing high-quality services to its customers in San Francisco and across Northern California while supporting local jobs, improving neighborhood infrastructure, and preparing for a changing climate.  

“Every drop of water, every flush, and every light switch in San Francisco relies on resilient infrastructure,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “Our crews and contractors are working every day — often behind the scenes — to deliver safe, sustainable, and reliable services to our communities. Infrastructure Week is a chance to highlight the scale of this work and recognize the hard-working, skilled, and innovative professionals making it happen.”  

Regional Water System Projects: Enhancing Safety, Seismic Resilience, and Longevity  

  • San Joaquin Pipeline Valve and Safe Entry Improvements: The SFPUC is upgrading three parallel water transmission pipelines, built between 1932 and 2012, and stretching approximately 48-miles across the Central Valley, along with a 17.4-mile fourth segment on the eastern and western ends. The massive pipelines are an essential part of the 167-mile system that delivers water from the Sierra to the Bay Area. These projects not only protect workers, but they also save ratepayer dollars. Since crews can access the pipelines more often to maintain them, the pipelines last longer, which reduces the need for costly improvements. 
    Fun fact: It takes about four days for a drop of water to travel from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to San Francisco—powered entirely by gravity. 
  • Hampshire and York Streets Utility Upgrade Project: This San Francisco Mission District project replaces over one mile of aging water and sewer mains and installs nearly 1.2 miles of earthquake-resistant ductile iron pipe. These specially designed Japanese-manufactured pipes bend but do not break during seismic events — ensuring reliable water delivery to essential facilities like Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center.   
  • Geary Boulevard Sewer and Water Improvements – Phase 2: As part of a citywide effort to upgrade aging infrastructure, the SFPUC is replacing water and sewer mains under this major transit corridor, some of which are more than 100 years old. We’re investing in clean water, strong systems, and healthy neighborhoods.

Power Projects: Advancing Clean Energy and Storage  

  • Paulsell Energy + Battery Storage Project: Located in Stanislaus County, the Paulsell Energy Center is a major solar and battery storage project providing clean, affordable, and more reliable electricity to CleanPowerSF’s 380,000 customers. By storing solar energy and releasing it when demand is high, the project will help CleanPowerSF sustain and expand its delivery of 100% renewable electricity – a milestone first reached in 2023, two years ahead of the City’s Climate Action Plan.   

Wastewater Projects: Modernizing for the Future and Protecting the Bay  

  • New Headworks Facility: 80% of San Francisco’s combined storm and wastewater — about 250 million gallons – is handled at the Southeast Treatment Plant every year. The New Headworks Facility removes debris and grit from wastewater before it enters treatment systems — protecting equipment and ensuring regulatory compliance. Designed to withstand major earthquakes, the facility also features a 335-foot-long public art wall by artist Norie Sato, inspired by the circular nature of water reuse.
  • Biosolids Digester Facilities Project: This state-of-the-art project at the Southeast Treatment Plant is replacing outdated digesters, which are used to break down organic matter in the wastewater treatment process. They are being replaced with modern, safer, and more efficient facilities for processing biosolids—a critical component of San Francisco’s wastewater treatment and reuse strategy. The project team was recently honored with a national safety award for excellence in construction practices.
  • Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility: The Platinum-award winning project is a cornerstone of the sustainable development underway on the island. Scheduled to open next year, the plant will produce up to 357 million gallons of recycled water annually for irrigation and toilet flushing, reduce water onsite use by 98%, and decrease nutrients in treated wastewater to help prevent harmful algae blooms.   

Building for Today. Investing in Tomorrow.  

During Infrastructure Week and throughout the year, the SFPUC is investing in the essential systems that deliver water, power, and sewer services across the City and in capital projects that protect our regional water system. This is your ratepayer dollars at work. These projects protect the vital networks that support daily life, fuel regional economic growth, and safeguard public health. They also create thousands of good-paying jobs that offer health benefits, employ local workers, and support the local economy.

About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) 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. 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.

About Infrastructure Week

For more than a decade, United for Infrastructure, a project of Accelerator for America Action, has presented Infrastructure Week as an annual, nationwide event focused on raising awareness about the importance of infrastructure and advocating for improvements that address some of our nation’s toughest challenges in transit and transportation, water systems, energy, connectivity, and more.