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SFPUC wastewater report highlights Southeast plant milestones and Treasure Island award
Summary
The Wastewater Capital Program reported progress on the Southeast Water Resource Recovery Facility, biosolids digester work, Sunnydale pump station safety improvements and a national Envision Platinum award for the Treasure Island facility.
SFPUC wastewater capital staff on Sept. 24 reported progress on major treatment projects, safety recognitions and construction milestones for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024–25.
Bessie Tam, program director for wastewater capital, highlighted the Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility's Envision Platinum award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. "Earning an Envision Platinum award ... affirms the project's design to efficiently manage resources, minimize environmental impacts, and support the well‑being of the island communities," Tam said, reading the ISI citation.
Tam also reported construction progress at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant. Work under way includes the biosolids digester facilities, which recently received a National Safety Council Occupational Excellence Achievement Award for outstanding safety performance; a new headworks facility approaching final completion with a ribbon‑cutting scheduled for Sept. 30; and a 12‑megawatt electrical feed provided from SFPUC power operations to support expanded loads. Tam said the overall Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP) Phase I budget remains approximately $4,470,000,000 across about 70 projects and that project count and budget were unchanged this quarter.
The report included examples of construction activities: installation of a 42‑inch reinforced concrete pipe on Gary Boulevard in a joint SFPUC–SFMTA project and safety improvements at the Sunnydale pump station to address health, security and aging‑facility concerns.
Public commenters from the Bayview Hunters Point community urged more local hiring, training and emergency response inclusion for residents and small local contractors. Demetrius Williams, a Bayview resident and the president of a local builders' trade collective, asked how residents and local firms could be trained and included in disaster response and urgent repairs should a large emergency cause sewage discharges to streets. "We wanna be included ... in on the plan and process of emergency disaster that happened in our community," Williams said.
Commissioners requested continued attention to inclusive procurement and local workforce goals and asked staff to bring additional briefings on workforce recruitment, retention, and community benefits tied to large capital projects.
Ending: Tam said staff will continue to track SSIP milestones and report back; commissioners asked staff to develop briefings on workforce inclusion, community benefits and emergency response planning relevant to wastewater facilities.
