Look How Far the Water System Improvement Program Has Come

The Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) is $4.6-billion of infrastructure upgrades, including more than 80 projects located in six Bay Area counties to ensure the highest quality drinking water and a reliable water supply to customers following an earthquake. These seismic improvements include dams, tunnels, pipelines, treatment plants and many more facilities that serve 2.6 million Bay Area customers. 2011 marked the start of the WSIP’s most active construction year to date. As of March 31, 2012, 55 out of 81 local and regional projects have been completed. All WSIP projects are forecasted to be complete in 2016. To view our progress and learn more about our water system, check out our video of water system improvements in your area here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qwqUcPIOyM&feature=youtu.be 

 

Nesting Birds & Night Work | Union Sanitary District Project

We are excited to share that USD’s Contractor, K.J. Woods Construction Company Inc., began work on the sewer relocation. Crews set up the trailers and construction areas so they can get their work done as efficiently as possible over the next several months.

USD’s construction management firm is the Covello Group. Their trailer is onsite to work closely with the USD Contractor addressing issues in the field immediately. Neighbors are encouraged to contact Project Liaison, Conor McNamara, at (415) 200-5229 or stop by the trailer to learn about their relocation project.

Covello Group Construction Management Trailer

Nesting Birds - It is spring and the Killdeer and Bushtit birds are nesting near one of the tunneling sites at Mary Beth Court, Fremont. The Contractor will begin work in another location as to not disturb the nesting birds.

Killdeer Bird

Bushtit Bird

Night work on Mission Boulevard will be May 14-18 & May 21-25 - To minimize the traffic impacts, night work will occur along Mission Blvd. near the I-680 NB on-ramp. There will be a lane closure on westbound Mission Blvd. and a closure of the NB I-680 off-ramp to westbound Mission Blvd. See the project map below for the work area.

Additional Notices were sent by the Contractor to adjacent neighbors who may be impacted by this work.

The Union Sanitary District (USD) sanitary sewer line relocation work is to prepare the site for the upcoming seismic upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4.

Summer Work in Preparation for Seismic Upgrade

SFPUC anticipates awarding this Seismic Upgrade Project contract within 45 days.  Once we have Commission approval, another public meeting will take place later this summer to provide you with information on the upcoming project as well as an opportunity to meet the Contractor.

           

Two relocation projects need to be completed before the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3&4 can begin. Alameda County Water District water line just completed their project. Union Sanitary District (USD) sewer pipelines cross the  Hetch Hetchy Right of Way where the Seismic Upgrade will be installed later this Fall.

Projected Timeline:

·        Summer 2012 - Union Sanitary District utility relocation and Alameda County Water District water line tie in. 

·        Fall 2012 -  Seismic Upgrade Project construction begins

·        Winter 2014 -  Expected completion of the project 

USD awarded the Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project last month to K.J. Woods Construction Inc.   Mobilization to the site is scheduled to begin early May.  The Contractor estimates project completion in August.

Here is the USD Project Area:

Starting this week, USD’s Contractor will begin mobilizing to the project site. They will install the environmental exclusion fencing around the construction site, potholing for utilities and constructing the temporary road to the project area.  

Please see below for the construction notice that was mailed out to adjacent neighbors. In addition, USD’s Contractor will issue notices to neighbors near the project site.

We will continue to update our blog as more information about this project becomes available.

Be Prepared!

In the event of an earthquake, will you have enough drinking water?

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) operates the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, which provides high-quality drinking water to 2.6 million residents and businesses across four Bay Area counties. The SFPUC is making the investment to seismically upgrade regional water facilities, tunnels, and pipelines. However, it is important for you to know that smaller pipelines leading to your home might be damaged in an earthquake. As a result, water from your tap may be unavailable for up to 72 hours or longer.

To prepare for an emergency:

Keep a 3-day water supply just in case

·         Each family member needs 1 gallon per day

·         Store tap water in food-grade plastic containers; replace every 6 months

·         Store bottled water in the original sealed containers; replace according to expiration date.

If your supply runs out, you can treat your tap water

·         Boil it for 3 minutes, or disinfect it by adding regular household bleach

·         Add 8 drops of bleach per gallon of water

·         Shake or stir then let it stand for 30 minutes

For more tips, view our emergency preparedness website at www.sfwater.org/beprepared.

Preconstruction Work

Starting tomorrow, crews will begin digging exploratory trenches in the SFPUC Right of Way near I-680 as part of the ongoing preconstruction work for the Seismic Upgrade Project. This Project is anticipated to begin this summer and will seismically upgrade two Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System pipelines where they cross the Hayward Fault in Fremont.

For this preconstruction work, construction crews will be working near the I-680 Mission Blvd northbound on-ramp. Work is expected to continue through the end of the week. Our Environmental Monitors will be onsite while construction is in progress. Please see below for the construction notice.

You are encouraged to contact us on our 24- hour project hotline at 800-571-6610 or by email baydivision@sfwater.org.

NOTE: Construction may be delayed due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Update from the Seismic Project Team

Thank you to all who attended the Open House last Wednesday. It was a great opportunity to meet representatives of the project team and the Union Sanitary District to discuss what to expect once construction begins this year. We will share more responses to neighbor’s questions in future weeks.

We will host another public meeting before the construction of the new seismically reliable pipelines begins this summer. Notices will be mailed to nearby neighbors and door hanger invitations will be distributed in advance.

Project Update:

• Preconstruction work is still ongoing on the Seismic Upgrade of two Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System pipelines where they cross the Hayward Fault in Fremont. This involves digging exploratory trenches. Residents may see crews and construction activities near the I680 Mission Blvd northbound on-ramp next week.

• Union Sanitary District will perform a major utility relocation in spring 2012. This construction work is estimated to begin mid-March and continue through July. Public notices will be mailed out and door hangers distributed as work approaches your neighborhood area.

Stay tuned! We will continue to post updates on this work on our project blog. You are encouraged to contact us on our 24 hour project hotline at 800-571-6610 or by email baydivision@sfwater.org.

NOTE: Construction may be delayed due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Mark Your Calendar! January 18th Commmunity Open House

Construction begins this year on the seismic upgrade of two major water pipelines near your neighborhood. Join representatives of the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System and the Union Sanitary District for an information session on the planned upgrades of two water pipelines in Fremont.

What: Open house on the Seismic Upgrade
of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4

Where: Warm Springs Community Center47300 Fernald Street, Fremont

When: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m.Refreshments will be provided.

Before construction begins on the seismic upgrades of the water pipelines, Union Sanitary District will relocate a sewer line at the project site at South Mission Boulevard and I-680.

Questions? Call our 24-Hour Project Information Hotline at (800) 571-6610. For construction updates, visit www.sfwater.org/SeismicUpgrade.

Para obtener información en español, por favor comuníquese con Lilia Ledezma al (650) 771-1237.