PUC outlines repairs after Fillmore water-main failure; committee approves emergency contract

San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission told the Budget & Finance Committee on Oct. 25 that a Sept. transmission main failure at Fillmore and Greene caused substantial street undermining and property impacts and that crews worked nearly daily to restore water, sewer laterals and pavement.

Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water at SFPUC, said the break affected a 16-inch transmission main and an 8-inch local distribution main, undermined the intersection and damaged sewer infrastructure. Repairs included immediate stabilization, trenching, sewer reconnections, PG&E gas-line coordination, the replacement of the 16-inch main (completed the night before the committee meeting, reportedly ahead of schedule) and restoration of sidewalks and pavement. The PUC estimated the work required about $3.5 million and said the project appeared on budget; the emergency declaration requested a $5 million not-to-exceed authorization to cover the work plus contingency.

The BLA recommended approval of the emergency declaration and noted the funding will come from water revenues and bonds; the report highlighted contingency planning and recommended PUC revisit maintenance prioritization during the May budget cycle.

Supervisors asked PUC to include pipe-maintenance prioritization and reliability in the capital budget discussion. The committee approved forwarding the emergency-contract authorization to the Board with a positive recommendation.

The PUC will report maintenance-prioritization plans and funding needs during the next budget process.