What to Expect in 2013

The SFPUC construction management team and Rados strive to be a good neighbor to the Fremont residents who live nearby the Seismic Upgrade of BDPL3&4 Project. In particular, the environmental team and contractor are working hard to ensure that concerns surrounding dust control and noise are properly mitigated.

Nearby neighbors may already notice that sound walls and environmental protective fencing have gone up at the perimeter of the work area. Noise walls were also installed to isolate noise within the work area. The contractor will continue to abide by the City of Fremont’s local noise ordinance.

To ensure that dust is controlled, the environmental team and the contractor work together to assure that stockpiles are covered with plastic and active areas are watered to suppress dust in active areas.

To ensure dust control measures are met, stockpiles are covered with plastic tarps and weighed down with sand bags. These piles are also watered to minimize dust.

It is also imperative that the contractor meet certain erosion and sediment best management practices to protect the nearby creeks and the city’s storm drains. For example, the environmental team monitors the contractor to ensure the implementation of the project’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan that requires storm drains and drainage outlets to be protected. In addition, track-out controls are in place, such as the installation of rock placed at construction entrances and exits. Finally, sweeping of the roadways take place regularly.

Track-out controls limit dust-related concerns. An example of a track-out control is the installation of rock that is laid at the entries and exits of each work area. This rock limits the amount of dust kicked up by trucks.

Protecting the Natural Habitat

The SFPUC Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) environmental commitment is to continue the delivery of high quality water to its 2.6-million Bay Area customers while ensuring the protection of the environment and stewardship to our natural resources.

From the beginning, the SFPUC has been committed to thoroughly assessing and mitigating environmental impacts WSIP construction activities may create. The WSIP is investing more than$250 million in various environmental initiatives and resources. These efforts include thorough reviews of all potential impacts at both the program and project levels, environmental permits from local, state and federal resource agencies, and field mitigation and compliance monitoring during construction.

For this project specifically, the environmental team has been working closely with the contractor to ensure the protection of species such as the California Red-legged Frog.

The California Red-legged Frog is a federally listed threatened species of the United States and is protected by law.

To ensure the protection of endangered species, protective exclusion fencing has been installed around the perimeter of our work areas to keep protected species like this one out of the work area. In addition, environmental inspectors and biologists monitor the construction sites to safeguard the area and preserve habitat where possible.

Typically, fencing is often orange, diamond-shaped and transparent. For this project specifically, black tarp-like fencing has been installed to keep wildlife outside of the work area.

Happy Holidays!

In November, the BDPL3&4 team completed external surveys outside of homes in Fremont along the SFPUC’s Right Of Way (ROW). These surveys will help the SFPUC construction management team have documentation of the existing conditions of private and public property areas prior to the start of the major construction activities.

Over the last few weeks, the contractor and the SFPUC construction management team have been working closely with Caltrans and other local government entities on a phased traffic management plan for Mission Blvd. Before pipeline construction work begins, these agencies must prepare a phased plan that includes detours, lane closure(s) and traffic considerations needed for the I-680 onramp and offramp access.

Residents and motorists of the I-680/Mission Blvd. intersection are encouraged to register their email addresses or by following us on Twitter at @I680H2OPipeWork to receive updates on detours, closures or night time work activities.

Feel free to forward our blog and Twitter information to your neighbors and friends. We will be posting important traffic and project updates as the work progresses early next year.

The BDPL3&4 team wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season! See you in 2013!

In case you missed our open house...

On behalf of the entire SFPUC construction management team, we would like to thank you for attending our recent open house event to learn more about the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 (BDPL3&4) Project in Fremont. It was a pleasure to meet all of you and we enjoyed discussing the project and answering your questions about this upcoming work. Local residents, businesses, government agencies and even a high school science class attended our open house. We hope you all gained more knowledge about this project and the overall Hetch Hetchy Water System Improvement Program!

To better visualize the seismic improvements that will be made to the regional water delivery pipeline, please view our short video on the engineering that will be undertaken to construct this pipeline along the Hayward Fault. Click on the video icon at the end of this email.

Nearly 20 local residents attended the open house to learn more about this important regional project!

Ms. Lisa Ishimine and her science class at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont attended the open house. Approximately 25 students earned extra credit for attending. The idea behind their participation was to allow Ms. Ishimine's students to become engaged in a public works project in their community and to learn about how their water system works.

View our video on the seismic upgrade improvements to the BDPL Nos. 3 & 4 project at Hayward Fault:  

Learn about upcoming construction in your neighborhood!

Before construction begins in mid-November, please join us on Thursday, Nov. 1 to learn more about the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 (BDPL3&4) Project in Fremont. The project team will be on hand to discuss the benefits and potential impacts of this pipeline upgrade work. Come by anytime between 3 and 4:30 p.m. to ask questions, review informational materials and to find out more about this important project! For more details, go to www.sfwater.org/seismicupgrade.

Event Details
What: Learn about the upcoming BDPL3&4 Seismic Upgrade Project
When: Thursday, Nov.1, 2012
Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Intersection of Tissiack Way & Nugget Place in Fremont
Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, please call 415.551.4675 or RSVP by emailing djaimes@sfwater.org.

Event Map

Be Prepared!

The 23rd anniversary of the freeway-flattening Loma Prieta earthquake is coming up on October 17th. In the event of a similar emergency, will you be prepared? Will you have enough drinking water?

Make This October Emergency Preparedness Month!
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 remember 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 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 videos and website: http://www.sfwater.org/beprepared or follow @WSIPInTheNews.

Pipeline Construction Work Coming to Fremont

This fall, crews will begin work on the seismic upgrade of two water pipelines where they cross the Hayward Earthquake Fault in Fremont. The pipelines, known as Bay Division Pipeline (BDPL) Nos. 3 and 4, cross three traces of the fault near the intersection of Mission Boulevard and I-680. The goal of the project is to make sure that all of our Bay Area customers have reliable water delivery following a major earthquake.

Preparation work and pipeline work will begin near Crawford Street and Tissiack Way, including the installation of fencing and staging equipment.Environmental monitoring activity will take place along the SFPUC Right of Way and around the work area.

Before major construction activities begin this November, crews will perform environmental surveys of the project site. Also, modifications will be made to nearby electrical, sewer and water lines to avoid utility interruption during construction. Overall construction is anticipated to be complete in summer 2014.

For more information, contact our 24-hour answering service at 866-973-1476 or e-mail djaimes@sfwater.org.

More updates to our construction activity will be distributed as the work nears.

Project Map