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Mayor and PUC mark completion of Lower Crystal Springs upgrades and stress earthquake preparedness
Summary
Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco PUC officials celebrated upgrades to the Lower Crystal Springs Dam and regional Hetch Hetchy system, saying seismic improvements and pipeline projects make the regional water supply more resilient and will allow water service to be restored within 24 hours after a major seismic event.
At a post‑session public event tied to the 106th anniversary remembrance of the 1906 earthquake, Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission officials highlighted the completion of improvements at Lower Crystal Springs Dam and broader Hetch Hetchy upgrades. The mayor described the investments as part of a regional effort and said, "we can assure the public that when the next big event happens, that water system will be there for us to deliver water within 24 hours." The PUC’s general manager, Ed Harrington, and regional partners described roughly $2.5 billion in regional water‑system investments and emphasized job creation tied to the capital program.
Speakers from the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency and local supervisors supported the project, noting increased reservoir capacity (speakers cited an increase of about 22,000,000 gallons) and the regional scope of the work. Event presenters also stressed preparedness resources for residents, including the 72hour.org program and neighborhood emergency response training, and connected the infrastructure work to broader earthquake readiness efforts.
