Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ssip Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SFPUC updates commissioners on SSIP progress, emergency force‑main repair and budget impacts
Summary
SFPUC staff reported Phase 1 of the Sewer System Improvement Program at 32.2% complete and described an emergency repair to a force main that raised initial cost estimates after marine access and soil conditions required different methods. Staff also outlined safety‑driven procurement changes and project schedule shifts.
Howard Fung, Acting Director of Wastewater Capital Programs, presented the quarterly SSIP update and a detailed account of recent emergency repairs to a Southeast force main.
Fung said Phase 1 includes 70 projects with a planned cost of approximately $2.979 billion; as of the quarter closing in June the program was 32.2% complete with about $833 million expended. Key elements moving forward include biosolids construction (already started), Headworks construction waves and a multi‑project bidding strategy for Scope 3 packages; staff said detailed project updates will return at the Oct. 22 meeting.
On the Southeast force main emergency, Fung said initial emergency cost estimates (originally projected at roughly $2–3 million) increased after a marine contractor review identified access and subsurface conditions that precluded the originally planned methods. The project required a barge for equipment access, a shift to a coffer dam shoring approach because soils were looser than anticipated, vibration monitoring to protect adjacent pipeline segments, and disposal of hazardous soils. Fung reported the temporary bypass piping was installed and could be activated in the coming days; he emphasized that a permanent reroute project remains planned and will follow appropriate CEQA review.
Staff also described broader procurement and safety decisions. Several upcoming projects (for example the North Shore pump station) were paused and will require a contractor prequalification process focused on safety performance; staff said that pause is in response to prior contractor safety incidents and is intended to protect workers and reduce project risk. Fung noted that higher bid results and interagency coordination requirements (MTA, Public Works) have contributed to schedule changes on some SSIP components.
Commissioners asked for additional detail on timelines and unit costs for green infrastructure (Sunset Greenway Phase 2) and asked staff to return with a unit‑cost presentation for the commission. Staff committed to providing the requested information and continuing to work with other city agencies to limit coordination delays.
