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PUC: 23 homes affected, three red-tagged after Fifteenth–Wawona water-main break
Summary
A large main break near Fifteenth and Wawona in West Portal damaged streets and foundations; PUC said about 23 homes and several vehicles were affected, three houses were red-tagged due to voids under foundations, and crews will do geotechnical investigations and replace mains over several weeks.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission reported Feb. 27 that a February 27 water-main break near Fifteenth and Wawona in the West Portal neighborhood affected an estimated 23 homes and several vehicles and raised concern about soils stability beneath nearby houses.
Steve Ritchie, Assistant General Manager for Water, told commissioners the neighborhood’s soil conditions — unconsolidated fill in a bowl-shaped area — exacerbated the incident and created voids under foundations. "So far, 3 houses have been red tagged in the neighborhood, because of voids that have occurred beneath their foundation," Ritchie said, describing voids roughly the size of a table undermining foundations.
PUC staff said they will conduct geotechnical investigations over the next three to four weeks and replace affected water mains. The agency has been conducting three neighborhood meetings — two informal and one that included the mayor — to coordinate response and reassure residents. The utility established a weekly notification to neighbors of activities, is opening a temporary storefront presence in the neighborhood to provide information and is suspending parking restrictions to avoid adding hardship for residents.
Ritchie said the PUC is working with the city attorney's claims office to address damages and pledged to remedy damages caused by PUC facilities. Commissioners asked whether lessons about low-permeability soils and LID (low-impact development) practices should inform future work; Ritchie cautioned that decisions about daylighting creeks or enhancing recharge must consider deep fill and stability in some neighborhoods.
Next steps: PUC will pursue geotechnical testing, weekly neighborhood updates and replacement of affected mains; staff will report back on findings and any broader lessons learned.
