SFPUC outlines options and trade‑offs to reduce San Francisco flooding; supervisors press for targeted solutions

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on April 12 heard an extended presentation from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) on short‑ and long‑term strategies to reduce storm flooding in low‑lying neighborhoods. General Manager Harlan Kelly Jr. and project manager Stephanie Harrison outlined the engineering constraints, potential projects and policy options, and fielded sustained questions from supervisors and residents about cost, equity and timing.

Harrison described San Francisco's combined sewer system and the design‑storm framework SFPUC uses to evaluate investments. She said the SFPUC's analysis shows it would cost roughly $2.3 billion in sewer system investments to meet a citywide 5‑year storm level of service and roughly $15 billion to reach protection against a 100‑year event; a 10‑year level was shown on study slides at about $3.7 billion. Harrison emphasized those figures are funded from sewer ratepayer dollars, not general tax revenues, and that projects targeted at particular corridors can still drive citywide costs because conveyance must be maintained to treatment plants.

Residents and neighborhood groups provided lengthy public comment describing repeated basement backups, mold and health impacts, damaged vehicles and…