SFPUC approves revisions to Water System Improvement Program, commits to risk mitigation

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted Feb. 26 to approve revisions to the Water System Improvement Program, including changes to the program’s budget, schedule and scope that staff said result from a year-long risk assessment and realignment effort. Julie Labonte, director of the Water System Improvement Program, told commissioners the team had worked through three workshops and extensive stakeholder comment to reach the recommendations. "The WECIP team recommends, with the support of PUC management, recommends that the commission approves the proposed changes to the WESIP, budget, schedule, and scope," Labonte said.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed staff on a range of technical and schedule questions. Labonte highlighted responses to two formal commenters — BOSCA (the Bay Area wholesale customers association) and Steve Lawrence — and described staff commitments: continued work with seismic experts and the state Seismic Safety Commission on seismic design criteria; ongoing options to accelerate the Bay Division pipeline projects at the Hayward Fault; fiber‑optic monitoring of selected pipeline segments; and an additional geotechnical investigation at the Harry Tracy plant, with alternatives to be reported back in mid‑2008.

Stakeholders who addressed the commission expressed both support and concern. Peter Drechmeyer of the Tuolumne River Trust urged the commission not to link proposed diversions from the Tuolumne River to WSIP upgrades, warning that an increase of up to 25,000,000 gallons per day would jeopardize river health and native fish populations. Nicole Sangula Berry of the Water Supply and Conservation Agency said she supported moving forward with the recommended action while urging staff to return with recommendations for accelerating critical Bay Division pipeline work.

Labonte told commissioners that some uncertainties remain — for example, schedule specifics for the most challenging engineering projects cannot be finalized until conceptual engineering and planning‑department environmental review are complete — and emphasized the program’s risk‑mitigation plan. After discussion, a commissioner moved the item and the commission approved the recommended changes by voice vote.

The commission directed staff to submit the revised WSIP materials to the State Department of Public Health and the California Seismic Safety Commission as required and to continue stakeholder engagement and reporting back on schedule acceleration options and the Harry Tracy geotechnical findings.