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SFPUC outlines $6.9 billion, 20‑year Sewer System Improvement Program
Summary
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission staff told the Planning Commission that phase‑1 work authorized so far covers about $2.9 billion and includes major upgrades at the Southeast wastewater treatment plant, green infrastructure across watersheds, and a biosolids project whose draft EIR is expected in May.
Karen Kubik, wastewater enterprise capital program director for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, told the Planning Commission that the Sewer System Improvement Program is a $6.9 billion, multi‑decade effort to upgrade the city’s combined sewer system.
The presentation said phase 1 accounts for roughly $2.9 billion and targets treatment‑plant reliability, seismic upgrades, and green infrastructure projects distributed across the city’s urban watersheds. Kubik noted the Southeast Plant headworks and a biosolids handling facility as program priorities and told commissioners that the draft environmental impact report for the biosolids project is expected to be released in May.
The program addresses aging infrastructure, seismic risk, and climate‑driven localized flooding; Kubik pointed to a mix of project types from large treatment‑plant upgrades to street‑scale green infrastructure designed to keep stormwater out of the combined sewer system. She described the effort as guided by the PUC’s levels‑of‑service goals for reliability, resiliency and community compatibility.
Funding will rely primarily on revenue bonds paid by rates, Kubik said, while the utility will pursue state revolving loans, competitive EPA‑administered funds, and grants. She said the utility is pursuing low‑interest state revolving fund loans that can roughly halve bond financing costs, but acknowledged statewide competition for those funds.
Commissioners asked about community benefits, access and safety. Kubik and staff said the program includes community facility elements (visitor and education spaces), coordinated design review with the Art Commission, and outreach for projects near residences. "We're building green infrastructure in each of our eight urban watersheds," Kubik said, "and we're making sure community aspects and environmental sustainability are key."
