San Francisco Sewers Blog

SFPUC-discounted rain barrels and cisterns… envied by Ancient Romans?

2012-01-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Did you know that neighborhoods in Ancient Rome were designed with individual cisterns which captured rainwater from paved courtyards?

Think of all the rainwater these communities could have stored utilizing the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Discounted Rain Barrel and Cistern Program!

Perhaps our program is a tad late for the Ancient Romans, but YOU can get discounts of 30-60% off 60-gallon rain barrels and up to $640 off cisterns! Click here for more information or call 415-554-0715.

Don’t let good water go to waste...

2011-10-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

... harvest rainwater!

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has launched year four of our popular Discounted Rain Barrel and Cistern Program. Starting now, get discounts of 30-60% off 60-gallon rain barrels and up to $640 off cisterns!

You may also wish to consider utilizing graywater. Our Laundry-to-Landscape Graywater Program lets you convert your clothes washer into a garden-watering system -- for less than $15! You’ll get a Laundry-to-Landscape kit, installation training, in-home technical assistance and more!

Click here for details on both of these programs.

Join us at a public meeting for sewer improvements on Cesar Chavez

2011-05-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Meeting is on Wed, 5/11 @6pm, at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary on 3125 Cesar Chavez Street (@ Harrison).

If you live or work in the area, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the sewer improvements that are about to start this summer and what will happen right after to beautify the area!

Check out the flier for more details.

Hope to see you there!

Snow in SF? Perhaps - but definitely rain!

2011-02-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Rain (or snow) is on its way right in time for the weekend to get cozy and stay in.

Get ready for the wet weather and remove debris away from catch basins - you will help minimize flooding in your area.

You don't want anything like this catch basin in your neighborhood - do you?

If you see clogged catch basins or to report street flooding, contact 311 or @311 in SF.

Stay dry and keep warm!

No more "FOG" in San Francisco's sewers! That's FOG, as in "Fats, Oil and Grease"

2011-02-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Exciting news for San Francisco! On Tuesday, February 8, the Board of Supervisors approved the FOG Control Ordinance that will prevent restaurant grease from going into the sewers - and help prevent grease-clogged pipes, flooding, save the city a
lot of money. Each SF spends more than $3.5 million to respond to grease-clogged pipes.

Check out the coverage on KTVU TV!

Learn more about wastewater, San Francisco's sewer system and how FOG impacts our sewers by visiting sfsewers.org.

Buy an SFPUC-discounted rain barrel or cistern and get FREE delivery!

2011-01-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

While supplies last, San Francisco residents, businesses and schools can purchase 60-gallon rain barrels and larger volume cisterns at steep discounts, compliments of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Buy your discounted rain barrels or cisterns in January and get FREE curbside delivery!

Purchase your first barrel for $85 and each additional barrel for only $45 – that’s more than 50% off the regular retail price of $105! Cistern discounts range from $160 to $640 depending upon volume.

SFPUC-discounted rain barrels and cisterns are available at:

The Urban Farmer Store
(San Francisco location only)
2833 Vicente Street, at 40th Avenue
Phone orders are welcome: 415-661-2204 (ext. 1)

Click here for more information on this discount program, or on San Francisco’s rainwater harvesting program.

Are you a beach-goer along the bayside in San Francisco?

2011-01-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

Whatever fun stuff you do at the beaches along the bayside in S.F. - surf, kayak, fish, or just simply swim... if you can stand the water's cold temperatures or handle the currents on the Bay - take the SFPUC's survey: You will help us learn how much these places are used and in turn help us better serve you.

Take the survey and spread the word!

To learn the current status of beach water quality in San Francisco, visit http://beaches.sfwater.org or call the hotline at 1-877-SFBEACH (toll-free) or 415-242-2214.

Thinking about what to give during the holidays? Think no more: give the SFPUC the gift of your used cooking oil

2010-12-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

Your gift will have two benefits - keeping our sewers clean, and helping the environment by creating biofuel for use in vehicles.

Here is what happens if you don't gift us your used cooking oil:

Collect your used cooking oil, and drop it off at one of SFPUC's used cooking oil collection sites in San Francisco. It is easy!

For a list of drop-off sites, visit SFGreasecycle's residential web-page.

To learn more about SFPUC's used cooking oil to biofuel program, visit www.SFGreasecycle.org.

HAPPY grease-free HOLIDAYS!

Rain forecast in S.F. - just in time during a busy holiday shopping weekend!

2010-12-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

To minimize potential flooding, SFPUC crews have been preparing in advance of the weekend storm by flushing the sewer lines and cleaning catch basins.

You can help too: before you go out and about shopping for the holidays, just sweep away leaves and debris away from catch basins.

In SF, to report clogged catch basins or street flooding, contact 311 or @sf311. You can also go to http://www.sf311.org/.

Stay dry and good luck shopping in the rain!

Thinking about frying that turkey for Thanksgiving? Don't even think about pouring the fryer oil or grease down the drain!

2010-11-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Instead, give the used grease or oil to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and we will turn it into biofuel for use in vehicles.

See what might happen if you pour used cooking oil down the drain:

At Thanksgiving, most people cook and share a meal with friends and family. Come next day, drop off your used grease at one of SFGreasecycle's permanent collection sites in San Francisco. By doing that, you will help reduce sewer blockages caused by fats, oil and grease and turn a waste product into something useful - biofuel.

For a list of used cooking grease drop-off sites in S.F., go to SFGreasecycle's residential web-page.

Visit SFGreasecycle.org for more information.

HAPPY greaseless THANKSGIVING!

Rainy Weekend!

2010-11-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

We love a rainy weekend; stay in and get cozy! To prepare our streets and City, help prevent local flooding by sweeping debris away from catch basins.

In SF, contact 311 or @sf311 to report clogged catch basins or street flooding. You can also go to http://www.sf311.org/.

Stay dry and have fun in the puddles!

Learn How to Make Your Own Rain Barrel System!

2010-10-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Rainwater Harvesting: A Hands-On Workshop
Presented by Tara Hui from Greywater Action www.greywateraction.org

Learn about San Francisco's water and waste water system. Save water, save money, save our Bay and Ocean by storing rain water that is free, with simple low-cost rainwater catchment systems, and use it in the dry months.

This workshop will be hands-on. We will install a small linked barrel system at a beautiful community garden called The Greenway.

Date: Saturday Nov 6th
Time: 10am to 1 pm
Location: Visitacion Valley Greenway Community Garden

Cost: $25 to $50 sliding scale, participants will get a free 45-gal food grade barrel with completion of the class. (Limited work-trade available, contact us early for details.)

To sign-up: http://greywateraction.org/content/workshop-sign

But wait! There’s more…

The SFPUC continues its popular Discounted Rain Barrel and Cistern Program! Learn how to buy rain barrels and cisterns at more than 50% off retail prices! For details, visit:
http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MC_ID/14/MSC_ID/361/MTO_ID/559/C_ID/5236

FRANCESCA VIETOR, RENOWNED ENVIRONMENTALIST, ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF S.F. PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

2010-10-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Civic and Environmental Leadership Cited as Key Reasons for Appointment of Past President and Director of City’s Environment Commission and Department

Francesca Vietor, a respected voice in the San Francisco environmental community, was elected yesterday as President of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Vietor will lead the five member commission that sets policy for the City’s water, power and sewer department. Vietor, previously serving as Vice-President of the Commission, has served on the Commission since September 2008.

“I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of outgoing Commission President F.X. Crowley and congratulate Francesca on her new appointment,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Francesca’s years of civic and environmental leadership will help further San Francisco and the SFPUC’s tradition of environmental stewardship and innovation.”

Vietor, a native San Franciscan, has been a dedicated voice and advocate for environmental protection programs for more than two decades. Previous positions include serving as President of the Urban Forest Council (2003-2005), Chair of the Mayor’s Environmental Transition Team (2003), President of the S.F. Commission on the Environment (1997-1999) and Director of the S.F. Department of the Environment (1999-2001). Vietor has served as the principal consultant to Ecoworks (2005-2010) and on both the staff and board of the Rainforest Action Network. She is co-founder and codirector of 1000 Flowers, a national woman’s voter registration and mobilization effort, which registered and activated over 20,000 women in 47 states.

Vietor’s community service has also included work with Bioneers, Bluewater Network, Center for Environmental Health, Commonweal, the Chez Panisse Foundation, Friends of San Francisco Public Library, the Goldman Fund, Greenpeace, International Rivers, Neighborhood Parks Council, Save the Bay and Slide Ranch, among others.

“Water, energy and wastewater are critical issues facing our communities, our city and our state,” said Vietor. “I will work with my fellow commissioners to ensure that we have adequate fresh water, clean energy and sustainable wastewater systems to protect our environment, as well as safeguard the public health and economic future of our city.”

A graduate of Georgetown University and BFA candidate at California College for the Arts, Vietor lives in San Francisco with her five-year-old daughter, Chiara.

Don’t let that rainwater go to waste!

2010-10-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

THE SFPUC CONTINUES ITS POPULAR DISCOUNTED RAIN BARREL AND CISTERN PROGRAM!

While supplies last, San Francisco residents, businesses and schools can purchase 60-gallon rain barrels and larger volume cisterns at steep discounts, compliments of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Purchase your first barrel for $85 and each additional barrel for only $45 – that’s more than 50% off the regular retail price of $105! Cistern discounts range from $160 to $640 depending upon volume.

The discounted rain barrels and cisterns are available at:

The Urban Farmer Store
(San Francisco location only)
2833 Vicente Street, at 40th Avenue
Phone orders are welcome: 415-661-2204 (ext. 1)

For more information on this discount program, or on San Francisco’s rainwater harvesting program, please visit:

http://sfwater.org/mto_main.cfm/MC_ID/14/MSC_ID/361/MTO_ID/559

Rains are on the way!

2010-10-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Have you checked on the catch basin (storm drain) in your neighborhood? Are they covered with leaves or trash? Now is the time to clear those up. Why? Leaves and debris can clog our catch basins - entryway to our combined sewer system - and may cause street flooding.

See a catch basin covered with leaves vs. a clean one:

You can do your part by raking away the leaves and put them in your green (compost) bin. Anything else in the black (garbage) bins. Make sure you wear gloves for this chore.

Too much stuff or too difficult to clean? Call San Francisco's 3-1-1 and they will immediately contact SFPUC's Sewer Operations Crews to clean. Don't attempt to remove debris below surface!

Want to learn more why it is so important to keep the catch basins clean and our sewers flowing? Visit our website at sfsewers.org.

Rainwater Harvesting for Urban Gardeners: A Hands-On Workshop

2010-10-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Presented by Tara Hui and Christina Bertea from Greywater Action http://www.greywaterguerrillas.com/

Simple, low-cost rainwater catchment systems can increase your backyard harvest, reduce stormwater runoff and prevent combined sewer overflows, recharge aquifers, and lower your water bill. In this hands-on workshop, students will review design and build a multi-unit rain barrel system.

Date: October 23, Saturday
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Location: 11 Wawona Street, San Francisco

Starting with a lecture, we will go over different catchment systems, and design considerations. During the hands-on portion after lunch (included in the workshop), we’ll locate the downspouts, and install a 675-gal rain-catchment system on-site, using recycled drums provided by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

Sign up through the Greywater Action website: http://greywateraction.org/content/workshop-sign (1st 10 people to sign-up will receive a free drum, courtesy of SFPUC, at the workshop)

$30-$100 sliding scale. (Limited work trade available. Please contact us early to inquire. Not available the day of.)

A rather unusual bike tour: visiting San Francisco’s sewers!

2010-10-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 25, close to 40 hearty cyclists embarked on a bike tour of a small segment of San Francisco’s infamous sewer system.

The cyclists (aka ‘sewer-bike enthusiasts’ including SFPUC staff) began their journey at 17th and Folsom and rode along the historic alignment of Mission Creek as it would have flowed in the 1800s.

The creek’s winding route coursed westerly along what is now Division Street, turned southwesterly, crossing Alabama and Harrison Streets, and then proceeded south between Harrison Street and Treat Avenue to Eighteenth Street. The original mouth of the creek, which would have been the estuary of Mission Creek, is west of 7th Street. The current layout of many streets south of and parallel to Market Street are curved because of the original footprints of Mission Bay and Mission Creek. Read more about the tour at streetblog.

Does this pique your interest? You can definitely learn more about our sewer system at sfsewers.org and the SFPUC’s stormwater management program, including urban watershed management, at http://stormwater.sfwater.org. Who knows? There might be another ‘sewer bike tour’ and you can find about that right here if and when that’s the case!

Sign-Up for a 3-part Gardening Workshop at Garden for the Environment

2010-10-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Residents- Sign-Up for a 3-part gardening workshops at the Garden for the Environment, sponsored by the SFPUC! The 3-part workshops will take place in November 2010.

Saturday, November 6, 2010:

Introduction to Organic Gardening Design: http://eventbrite.com/event/698294618

Saturday, November 12, 2010:

Introduction to Organic Garden Care: http://eventbrite.com/event/853746579

Saturday, November 19, 2010:

Introduction to Organic Garden Watering: http://eventbrite.com/event/853762627

For more information on the Garden for the Environment, please call (415)731-5627 or visit: http://www.gardenfortheenvironment.org/

The SFPUC celebrates with Leland Avenue residents and merchants the completion of the Streetscape Project

2010-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

The 5th annual Leland Street Fair came along just in time for the area residents and merchants to celebrate the completion of the Leland Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project. The beautifully improved streets and sidewalks incorporate stormwater elements: permeable pavers at parking strips and sidewalks, 63 new trees, and biofiltration planters installed adjacent to each catch basin. What will these new stormwater management elements do? They’ll help decrease stormwater flows to the City's combined sewer system, support water conservation goals, and link the new streetscape to neighboring green spaces along the Visitacion Valley Greenway. What else is new on Leland Avenue? LED streetlights, accessible curb ramps, corner bulb-outs, street repaving, decorative-stamped crosswalks, sidewalk furniture and public artwork.

Go and check it out for yourself!

San Francisco Police Department is participating in Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Saturday, September 25, 2010

2010-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Agency and other local law Enforcement Agencies will be a part of a nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" day, on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 10 San Francisco Police Stations.

This event is from 10am-2pm. The service is free and anonymous and no questions asked. There will be collection containers for prescription pills that are expired, unused and unwanted. SFPD ask for no identifying information on bottles, and plastic bags will be available at each site, if needed.

Locations:

Central Police Station, 766 Vallejo Street, 315-2400

Southern Police Station, 850 Bryant Street, 553-1373

Bayview Police Station, 201 Williams Street, 671-2300

Mission Police Station, 630 Valencia Street, 558-5400

Northern Police Station, 1125 Fillmore Street, 614-3400

Park Police Station, 1899 Waller Street, 242-3000

Richmond Police Station, 461 6th Ave, 666-8000

Ingleside Police Station, 1 Sgt. John V. Young Lane, 404-4000

Taraval Police Station, 2345 24th Ave., 759-3100

Tenderloin Police Station, 301 Eddy St., 345-7300

For more information, visit: http://www.dea.gov/

You always hear about spring cleaning - SFPUC is all about summer cleaning!

2010-09-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

The SFPUC is hard at work cleaning and flushing the sewer lines and catch basins (storm drains) on Chestnut and Union Streets in the Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhoods. Why? Well, because for our sewer system to work properly, we need to do a “check up” and maintain them - just like we all (as in "human beings") should have an annual medical exam every year. While cleaning the sewer pipes we will also be assessing the condition of our sewers.

Check out our Sewer Operations crews at work!

These cleaning and maintenance efforts will help minimize potential flooding in the neighborhood, and the summer is ideal time as the rainy season is just around the corner.

So if you see a huge truck like the one in this picture on/around Chestnut and Union streets, you’ll know it’s because we are doing some "summer cleaning."

Ooh, remember: if you see a clogged catch basin in San Francisco, call 3-1-1 immediately.

Host a hands-on rain barrel installation workshop!

2010-08-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Would you like to harvest the rain?

Greywater Action is looking for a few qualifying home sites on which to hold their popular “Rainwater Harvesting for Urban Gardeners” hands-on workshop. If your home qualifies, you can host a workshop and have a rainwater harvesting system built in your home or garden!

Home site requirements:

• Site must be located in San Francisco.

• Yard or garden must contain a roof downspout that has never been connected to the sewer system. (This means that water flowing through the downspout flows onto the ground.)

• Yard or garden surface is level with or slopes down from the rainwater harvesting storage area.
Hosts will need to:

• Provide lunch for workshop participants.
• Sign a liability waiver.
• Participate in a survey.
• Strap completed rainwater harvesting system to a wall or fence for seismic safety (the Department of Building Inspection requires using two 3/4-inch perforated 24-gauge steel straps). Straps will be installed during the workshop.

Hosts will be given free 45-gallon food drums (provided by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) which will be converted into rain barrels during the workshop. Hosts will need to purchase all additional hardware required to build the system.

Note: Workshop participant fees cover teacher’s fees for the workshop. However, if participant fees fall short of covering teacher’s fees, hosts will be required to pay the difference (this occurs very rarely).

For more information or to apply to host a Greywater Action “Rainwater Harvesting for Urban Gardeners” workshop, please write to: tarahui@hotmail.com.

Double-decker buses worth of fat!

2010-07-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

BBC News UK: Massive fat mounds removed from London's sewers

Thames Water says it has removed enough fat to fill nine double decker buses from London's sewers.

Check out this video and see for yourself!

This problem is close to home as well - Fats, oil and grease (FOG) are a serious problem for San Francisco’s wastewater system too clogging our sewers and costing more than $3.5 million each year to unclog the pipes.

BUT WAIT! The SFPUC's SFGreasecycle program is there to help alleviate this fatty problem. Visit www.SFGreasecycle.org, and learn how we can turn FOG into biofuel. You should give it a try - whether you are with a restaurant or are a SF resident.

Watershed Stewardship Grants applications are due this Thursday, July 15!

2010-07-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Reminder! The current Watershed Stewardship Grants cycle ends this Thursday, July 15!

The application is available online on the both the Urban Watershed Management Program and the Community Challenge Grant Program websites. Applications are due Thursday, July 15, 2010, no later than 4:30 PM, City Hall, Room 362. Winners will be notified the week of September 20, 2010. Applicants can get started by reviewing the following information:

· Watershed Stewardship Grant Flyer
· Watershed Stewardship Grant Evaluation Criteria

And by completing the following forms:

· CCG Project Budget Template (Word)
· CCG Reporting Forms (Word)
· CCG Volunteer Match Form (Word)

The grant is a partnership between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission SFPUC Urban Watershed Management Program and the Community Challenge Grant Program. It is aimed at enabling community-driven implementation of green infrastructure.

For more information, visit our website at http://stormwater.sfwater.org or the Community Challenge Grant Program website at http://sfgsa.org/index.aspx?page=4264.

If you have questions specifically about the Watershed Stewardship Grants, please contact me at sminick@sfwater.org.

Good luck to all of the applicants!

Best,
Sarah Minick

Those dots by the catch basins? A sign for defeated mosquitos!

2010-07-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Check this article out and learn about SF's eco-friendly pest management practices run by Pestec:
"Bloodthirsty Females Foiled by Bikes"

Get ready for the Watershed Stewardship Grant!

2010-05-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Stormwater Enthusiasts,

It’s time to get your best ideas ready for the Watershed Stewardship Grant!

The grant is a partnership between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission SFPUC Urban Watershed Management Program and the Community Challenge Grant Program. It is aimed at enabling community-driven implementation of green infrastructure.

The next grant cycle will open on Monday, June 7, 2010. At that time, the application form will be made available online on the both the Urban Watershed Management Program and the Community Challenge Grant Program websites. Applications are due Thursday, July 15, 2010, no later than 4:30 PM, City Hall, Room 362. Winners will be notified the week of September 20, 2010. In the meantime, applicants can get started by reviewing the following information:

• Watershed Stewardship Grant Flyer
• Watershed Stewardship Grant Evaluation Criteria

And by completing the following forms:

• CCG Project Budget Template (Word)
• CCG Reporting Forms (Word)
• CCG Volunteer Match Form (Word)

For more information, visit our website at http://stormwater.sfwater.org or the Community Challenge Grant Program website at http://sfgsa.org/index.aspx?page=4264.

If you have questions specifically about the Watershed Stewardship Grants, please contact me at sminick@sfwater.org.

Good luck to all of the applicants!

Best,
Sarah
_______________________________
Sarah Minick
Urban Watershed Management Program Wastewater Enterprise
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
1145 Market St, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

sminick@sfwater.org 415.551.4868
http://stormwater.sfwater.org/

Why I love biosolids: From Soil to Salad: Gardening and Cooking in Seattle (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

2010-05-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

P2 Tip: Do Some Spring Cleaning!

2010-04-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

P2 Tip: Doing Some Spring Cleaning?

Did you know that some common “green” items in your home can be used as cleaning agents? Try these tips next time you’re cleaning, knowing that you’re not washing any pesticides or strong chemicals down the drain:

· Bathroom or Kitchen Tile - Use Baking Soda and Water: Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth.

· Windows and Mirrors - Use White Vinegar, Water and Newspaper: Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.

· Clogged Drains - Use Baking Soda and Boiling Water: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the problem drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. If that isn't doing it for you, chase the baking soda with a 1/2 cup of vinegar and cover tightly, allowing the vigorous fizzing of the chemical reaction to break up the gunk. Then, flush that with one gallon of boiling water.

Source: www.thedailygreen.com

Trapping and Reusing Grease - the SFPUC way

2010-03-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Are you a restaurant owner/manager or know someone who is?

Check out this article on the SF Chronicle and learn what FOG is and how you can get rid of it. What's more, the SFPUC can turn it to biofuel! Click on the following title to read the article: S.F. asks eateries to trap grease, save sewers.

You sure would want to trap your grease, or else, as you will see on the photo below, we'll all end up with concrete-like hardened grease clogging our sewer pipes!

P2 Weekly Tip: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by Going Green!

2010-03-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

P2 Weekly Tip: Want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without turning blue? Go green, instead!

Throw a Green St Patrick’s Day party by using potted native plants as decorations and/or giving away small native plants as party favors.

To celebrate, plant something green in your garden. For a St. Patrick’s Day twist, scatter some wildflower seeds, such as clover, in your garden. It’s attractive, bee-friendly, and helps hold moisture into the soil. (http://lighterfootstep.com/ & http://nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/)

If you want to purchase native plants, visit Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council (HANC)’s native plant nursery in Inner Sunset. Go to: www.hanc-sf.org/native-plant-nursery for more information.

Great Rainwater Harvesting Story on ABC News!

2010-03-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Check out this terrific story on local rainwater harvesting efforts which aired on KGO-TV last night!

Click here to learn more about the SFPUC-funded discounts on rain barrels and cisterns.

SFPUC says no to FOG?

2010-02-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right, we are saying "NO" to FOG! But, wait, this is not the kind that envelops the city , but the kind that clogs our sewers. It's FOG, as in "fats, oil and grease". Just like cholesterol can clog our arteries, this FOG can clog our sewer pipes!!!

Check out this article from the Municipal Sewer and Water Magazine, to learn more: San Francisco Fights FOG.

Want to be part of it? Of course you can! Whether you are with a restaurant or you are a resident, there are ways you can get rid of your oil that the SFPUC can turn to biofuel. Go to SFGreasecycle.org and join in the fun!

P2 Weekly Tip: Be Inspired by the Olympics and Go Green!

2010-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

P2 Weekly Tip: Have you been inspired by watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics? Don't just watch -- get outside and bring your inner-Olympian with you! There are plenty of green places to go and green things to do… even in the middle of San Francisco. Here are some suggestions:

*Check out SF Recreation and Park's Natural Areas: http://sfnap.org/. This website will help you find neighborhood areas containing lots of different native species to explore. Check it out, and if you have a yard, consider planting some native species yourself! To learn more at: http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/

*Join one of SF Recreation and Park's Sports Team at www.sfgov.org/recpark and get out there! But remember to tread lightly on the field or on the court. Suggest that your team pick up trash around your playing field before or after your practice.

*For more P2 tips, visit: http://pollutionprevention.sfwater.org/

P2 Weekly Tip: Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

2010-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

February is the month where love is celebrated, usually in the traditional way of red roses, red-ribbon wrapped chocolates, and red heart-shaped Valentine’s cards. Here a few more tips for the green at heart to make your Valentine’s Day more environmentally friendly.

Instead of purchasing a bouquet of flowers, buy organic flowers or live bushes, shrubs, or trees that can be planted in the spring.

Bake cookies or other goodies for your valentine and package them in reusable and/or recyclable containers as gifts.

Buy cards that use recyclable paper, send e-mail cards, or make your own.

(source: http://www.greenchoices.utah.gov/)

International LID Conference and Great LA Times Story!

2010-02-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Don't miss the International LID Conference in San Francisco on April 11-14! For conference details and registration, go to: http://content.asce.org/conferences/lid10/index.html

Also! Check out this great story in last week’s LA Times:

Los Angeles might require rainwater capture
Proposed law would apply to new home-building, larger developments and some redevelopment projects to prevent runoff from reaching the ocean.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rain-barrels1-2010feb01,0,1154413.story

Help fight winter flooding - keep your catch basins clean!

2010-02-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

P2 Weekly Tip: Now that it’s the rainy season, here are some P2 tips to help keep our stormwater healthy:

-Use brooms and rakes to clean up in the yard and nearby sidewalk (instead of using the water hose).
-Pick up litter!
-Use caution with pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Do not apply if rain is in the forecast.
-If you do work on your car at home, try to contain and clean up any spills so that they don’t flow into the storm drains.

For more tips, visit http://pollutionprevention.sfwater.org

P2 Weekly Tip: Keep Storm Drains Clean during Rainstorms

2010-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

P2 Weekly Tip: The rain is come down! Now is the time to start thinking about what belongs down the catch basins (storm and sewer drains). Don't dump waste in or around catch basins -- report any illegal dumping or potential storm water pollutants to 3-1-1.

Did you know? You can also help keep the catch basins clean by removing leaves and other debris from top of catch basins. Never attempt to remove anything below the grid and call 3-1-1 for clogged catch basins.

Rain Storm Expected Starting Saturday, January 16 throughout next week!

2010-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

With rain, wind gusts and heavy storms forecasted to hit the Bay Area the weekend of January 16 through next week, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Department of Public Works (DPW) today is issuing a “Flood Risk Alert” to encourage residents and businesses in low-lying flood-prone areas to prepare for potential flooding. The City has also put critical departments and storm weather responders on standby in anticipation of the storm event.

City crews are deployed throughout the city inspecting and cleaning catch basins as a precautionary measure to prepare for and prevent flooding. Additional crews will be on standby through the week to reduce potential emergency response times.

The City urges San Francisco residents and businesses in flood-prone areas, and those who live or work in below-grade properties, to proactively position sandbags and call 3-1-1 to report any blocked or clogged storm drains or catch basins immediately. DPW is providing San Franciscans up to 10 free filled or unfilled sandbags at the DPW Operations Yard, 2323 Cesar Chavez Blvd. (enter at Kansas and Marin Streets), Monday-Sunday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Residents must show proof of residency at the time of pickup.

In addition, after completing a number of major capital projects in flood-prone areas, the SFPUC in 2010 is scheduled to begin construction on flood improvement projects in the Mission and Sunnydale areas. The SFPUC is also conducting a series of public workshops to define sewer projects for their long-term capital program to address aging infrastructure, seismic reliability, and neighborhood flooding. These monthly workshops are scheduled to continue through Spring 2010. More information about the workshops and the sewer system can be found at www.sfsewers.org.

Citizens should call the City’s Customer Service Center 3-1-1 for more information about the free sandbag program or to report clogged storm drains/catch basins, flooding emergencies, and sewer backups. When safe, residents are also encouraged to push aside leaves or trash that may be obstructing the flow of stormwater into storm drains. Additional flooding tips and information can be found on www.sfdpw.org.

P2 Weekly Tip: Keep Pests Out of Your Home

2010-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Simple preventive measures discourage over 50% of your unwanted pest problem. Here are some tips to prevent pests:

Wipe counters and sweep regularly to keep your kitchen clean and free of crumbs.

Keep your stove area clean and free of cooking grease.

Compost food scraps or seal waste in plastic bags and place in container with tight fitting lid. Empty garbage frequently and place in closed can or dumpster.

SFPUC and ARCSA Present a FREE Rainwater Harvesting Workshop

2010-01-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

The American Rainwater Capture Systems Association (ARCSA) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) are partnering to present a FREE three-hour Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting Workshop on Saturday, January 23, in San Francisco. In addition, ARCSA will present several day-long and multi-day intensive rainwater harvesting and accreditation workshops throughout the Bay Area (click here for more information on ARCSA’s Bay Area intensive workshops).

SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP:

The FREE San Francisco course is open to San Francisco residents who are interested in learning more about rainwater harvesting in non-potable applications, such as landscape irrigation. Instructors will provide an overview of rainwater harvesting, history, uses and applicability to conserving rainfall as a natural resource. Concepts and techniques are introduced on harvesting rain for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation and wildlife management.

Foodstuffs will not be permitted in the classroom, therefore be sure to eat beforehand.

This workshop is open to San Francisco residents only.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

When: Saturday, January 23, 10am – 1pm
Where: San Francisco City and County Fair Building, 1199 – 9th Avenue (at Lincoln)
Cost/Fee: This is a free event.
Parking: Weekend parking can be difficult in this area. Public transit is recommended.
Nearby MUNI Lines: N Judah, 44, 71, 16

RESERVATIONS

Seating is limited!! Pre-register to ensure your spot!! To pre-register, send your (1) full name, (2) mailing address, (3) email address and (4) phone number to:

Kenya Briggs
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
kbriggs@sfwater.org
415-554-0715

Still in Stock!

2010-01-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

The SFPUC’s discounted rain barrel program is going strong! With the current string of storms sweeping through the Bay Area, now is the perfect time to begin harvesting the rain.

If you’re a San Francisco resident, you can buy up to 10 rain barrels at steep discounts. Save $30 off your first barrel and $50 off each additional barrel – or apply your discounts towards a cistern! (Rain barrels retail for $119.)

This program is offered exclusively through The Urban Farmer Store in San Francisco. Learn more!

We've Gone Digital!

2010-01-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Digital Currents, the SFPUC’s new electronic magazine, launches today! Subscribe now!

Digital Currents offeres an easy, online means to stay abreast of the SFPUC's green initiatives, water conservation efforts and regional infrastructure projects.

Through the end of February, 2010 everyone who subscribes to digital Currents will be entered into a raffle to win an “I Love SF Water” t-shirt!

Log on and see why we’re more vivid, more vital – more Current!

The Holidays: a time to give back - your used cooking oil, that is...

2009-12-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well, here is your chance to be Santa, and give your used cooking oil as a gift to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). What's best, your gift will have a dual benefit: help keep our sewers clean, and be converted to biofuel for use in vehicles, reducing our carbon footprint.

First, collect your used cooking oil, and then hurry up and drop it off at the following places on December 26 and 27, and also January 2 and 3:

* COSTCO WAREHOUSE - 450 10th St (at Bryant)
Saturday: 9:30am-7pm / Sunday: 10am-6pm
* Select WHOLE FOODS STORES
During store hours, 8am-10pm
-- FRANKLIN –1765 California St (at Franklin)
-- POTRERO HILL: 450 Rhode Island St. (at 17th St.)
-- SOMA – 399 4th Street (at Harrison)
* DOGPATCH BIOFUELS – 765 Pennsylvania Ave (between 22nd & 23rd St)
Saturday: 11am-4pm / closed on Friday and Sunday
* HAIGHT ASHBURY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL RECYCLING CENTER (HANC) – 755 Frederick St (at Arguello.)
Saturday: 9am-4pm / Sunday: 12pm-4pm / closed on Friday

For more information, and to see the locations where you can drop off year-round, visit www.SFGreasecycle.org.

Happy OILLESSdays Everyone!

Storm headed our way... Get prepared and give a hand.

2009-12-04T12:19:00.000-08:00

The SFPUC and DPW are hard at work trying to get catch basins cleaned before the rains start on Sunday. And if you live in a flood-prone area, DPW is providing San Franciscans (with proof of residency) up to 10 free filled or unfilled sandbags at the DPW Operations Yard, 2323 Cesar Chavez Blvd. (enter at Kansas and Marin Streets), Monday-Sunday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.

With 20,000 catch basins in the city we can't get to all of them so now is the time to help yourselves and your neighbors. If you see a lot of leaves and trash over a catch basin, give a helping hand and sweep it up. You can even compost the leaves! And if a catch basin starts flooding during the rains, oftentimes it is the result of a errant plastic bag or trash preventing the water from properly draining.

Just a little bit of elbow grease and VOILA... a free flowing catch basin that is no longer flooding a neighborhood. Of course, if moving the blockage doesn't work. Give us a call at 3-1-1 and we'll send a crew out there to investigate.

Frying a Turkey for Thanksgiving? SFPUC's SFGreasecycle wants your grease!

2009-11-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

Fried turkey is good, but you definitely don't want to pour the oil down the drain. Do you want to see what happens if you do that? Clogged sewers like this!

Thanksgiving is all about being with family, eating and having a good time. Come the next day, drop your used cooking oil at one of the following sites in San Francisco:

COSTCO WAREHOUSE - 450 10th St (at Bryant)
Friday: 9am-8:30pm / Saturday: 9:30am-7pm / Sunday: 10am-6pm
Select WHOLE FOODS STORES
* FRANKLIN –1765 California St (at Franklin)
* POTRERO HILL: 450 Rhode Island St. (at 17th St.).
* SOMA – 399 4th Street (at Harrison)
DOGPATCH BIOFUELS – 765 Pennsylvania Ave (between 22nd & 23rd St)
Friday: 11am-7pm / Saturday: 11am-4pm / closed on Sunday
HAIGHT ASHBURY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL RECYCLING CENTER (HANC) – 755 Frederick St (at Arguello.)
Friday-Saturday: 9am-4pm / Sunday: 12pm- 4pm.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP OFF CENTER –Recycle Rd (at 401 & 501 Tunnel)
Saturday: 8am-4pm / closed on Friday and Sunday
WALDEN HOUSE – Entrance for drop off on 330 Newhall St (at Evans)
ONLY on Friday, November 27: 11am-3pm

If you need more information, visit www.SFGreasecycle.org.

THANKS for GIVING your grease!

How fun is that?

2009-11-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

Scores of hydrologists, landscape architects, urban planners and stormwater activists converged at San Francisco State University last Friday (November 13)… to play games.

“Games?” you may ask, “When there’s so much stormwater management-related work to do in San Francisco? For shame!”

Don’t hate.

These were serious games undertaken during a five hour Urban Watershed Planning Charrette – the City’s second such event!

Charrette-goers broke into groups and poured over maps of the City’s western watersheds, placing “game pieces” on the best places to implement Low Impact Design technologies like bioretention, filtration, permeable paving, and rainwater harvesting. Wildly fun!

Top solutions from this green infrastructure “jam session” will be presented to SF communities and may be folded into San Francisco’s sewer system overhaul.

For more information on Low Impact Design (LID) technologies or previous urban watershed planning events visit: http://stormwater.sfwater.org/ (details from Friday’s charrette will be posted online in March, 2010).

Live to play. Play to live. Excelsior!

Don’t Let This Winter’s Rain Go to Waste! The SFPUC Continues its Popular Discounted Rain Barrel Program

2009-11-13T10:53:00.001-08:00

Starting this coming Saturday, November 14, while supplies last, San Francisco residents can purchase up to ten fully outfitted 60-gallon rain barrels at steep discounts, compliments of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC’s) Wastewater Enterprise.

Purchase your first barrel for $89 and each additional barrel for only $69 – that’s more than 40% off the regular retail price of $119!*

The re-purposed rain barrels, originally used for food storage, are available at The Urban Farmer Store (San Francisco location only): 2833 Vicente Street, at 40th Avenue. Please note that The Urban Farmer Store is closed on Sundays.

For details please visit: http://stormwater.sfwater.org/ (select “Rainwater Harvesting”), or write to: kbriggs@sfwater.org.

Old Creeks in S.F.

2009-11-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Check out this informative page with pictures about former creeks in the Mission on Burrito Justice. It has maps dating back to 1859 and is followed by a great discussion by some pretty smart people. Click on the title or HERE!

The SFPUC and nifty engineers at the Dept. of Public Works also worked with the Oakland Museum of California to develop a cool map for download that highlights all the old San Francisco creeks and watersheds! It is called the Creek and Watershed Map of San Francisco.

"Rain drops keep falling on my head"

2009-11-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

...says the catch basin, and, "please, keep me litter-free."

The weather forecast is predicting rain in San Francisco tonight (Thursday, November 5) and Friday, November 6. Cleaning catch basins (storm drains) prior to a rain event is especially important. Leaves and street litter can clog the catch basins and may cause street flooding. We have already had two major rain events in mid-October in San Francisco where catch basins were clogged with debris, and rainwater couldn't flow through.

Put on your gloves, use a rake to remove debris above surface and place leaves in your green cart and the rest in garbage bins. Never attempt to remove debris below surface. To report sewer emergencies, clogged catch basins after you remove debris from above surface, call San Francisco’s 3-1-1 or visit the online self service portal at www.sfgov.org/311.

Your efforts for cleaning the catch basins will benefit your neighborhood and our City.

Wait! Read here to learn more about the do's and dont's before/during/after a storm.

SF Bay Oil Spill

2009-10-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

If you are in the Bay Area you must have heard about the oil spill today. Well a lot of us in the SFPUC have been on standby just in case the oil made it's way to the S.F. shoreline. What does wastewater have to do with beach/shoreline cleanups? Well, it turns out that most of our wastewater personnel are HAZWOPER certified.(no it is not a Burger King burger!) Fortunately this spill is A LOT smaller in size. Still, bunker fuel can cause tar balls to form on the land so we want to be prepared just in case.

Remember back in 2007 when the Cosco Busan spilled more than 53,000 gallons of oil into the Bay? Guess who lead the clean-up effort at Ocean Beach! That's right... SFPUC Wastewater Enterprise.

Check out some pics from our cleanup efforts at the Ocean Beach. We helped over 1000 San Franciscans get trained and prepped for the beach cleaning. And you thought we only dealt with crap!

Pride and Petsjustcute

2009-10-26T10:47:00.001-07:00

Pet lovers joined in early to celebrate their pets and the coming Halloween eve at 20th Annual Pet Pride Day held in Golden Gate Park’s Sharon Meadow on Sunday, October 25. The incredible weather was just the treat that both pets and humans to enjoy while visiting informational booths that included adoptable pets of all species, animal rescue groups; pet product vendors free goodies and raffle prizes!

The day’s events included a Halloween pet costume contest, pet trick competition, incredible Frisbee dog tricks and the ever popular SFPUC sponsored Super Dooper Pooper Scooper Kiddie Goodie Scramble, all hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Doug McConnell of ‘Bay Area Backroads’ and ‘Mac and Mutley’ fame.

The Super Dooper Pooper Scooper Kiddies’ Goodie Scramble helped to instruct children and adults alike to pick up their pet’s waste and dispose of it properly.

SFPUC staff distributed pet waste bags throughout the day to ensure everyone picked up and disposed of their pet's waste in a proper manner.

So, just how are you supposed to dispose of your pet's waste in San Francisco. Follow these tips and you will be part of the solution to water pollution:

PET WASTE DISPOSAL DOs

ALWAYS pick up after your dog and dispose of its contents into the trash! There are over 120,000 dogs in San Francisco, and each one poops once or twice a day... you do the math!

Look for and use biodegradable pet waste bags available in dispensers at local parks.

Carry extra biodegradable bags when walking your dog and encourage other dog owners to clean up after their pets, as well.

Teach your children how to properly clean up and dispose of pet waste. Your actions set an example for others.

Dispose of biodegradable pet waste bag in the BLACK trash bin.

DO NOT put into BLUE recycling bin or GREEN compost bin.

DO NOT flush into the toilet or drop into the stormdrain on on the corner (up to a $25,000 fine for dumping into stormdrain!)

When you pick up after your dog, you are helping the environment because...

“We all Live Downstream!”

Crazy Monday Storm

2009-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Oct. 19 was such a crazy day for many people due to the storms. Mother Nature decided to not play nice and surprised everyone by unloading a lot of water from the sky in a short period of time. Manholes and side sewer vents overflowed, intersections flooded, and unfortunately some people's homes were damaged in the process.

The good thing is that in most instances City departments came together to help those areas in need. This came in the form of pumping out water, cleaning debris, or sanitizing homes and businesses so people weren't displaced. Still, there was a lot of damage done.

What happened? Well, San Francisco's combined sewer system is designed to carry around 0.8 inches/hour of flow. This is based on historical weather models... and most of the time it's enough. For example, during the Oct 13 storm or any of the rainstorms over the past two years (albeit there weren't enough) you didn't hear reports of whole neighborhoods flooding.

Clogged catch basins and intersections yes, but not rivers of water and manhole geysers.

On Monday, some of our gauges showed that nature dropped a whopping 0.71 inches of rain in 20 MINUTES in many areas. Even in areas previously prone to flooding (where we subsequently upgraded our system), the storm intensity thrown our way was too much, too fast. Of course, the upgrades helped, and some areas could have fared far worse, but that's understandably little consolation to those who had their homes, businesses, and lives affected.

Rather than blab on about the system... I'll direct you to a a very informative web post written by San Franciscan Jeff Diehl (WARNING: some expletives are used in the page).

More to come about our combined sewer system in coming weeks. We'll be reevaluating where our system goes from here as we move forward with plans to rebuild it -- and we'll be incorporating a lot of different strategies, like Low Impact Design (which is mentioned in Jeff's post).

JEFF DIEHL'S WEB POSTING

Were you affected on Monday? Post your story in the comments section.

The First Flush: It is not what you think!

2009-10-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last week was our first big rainstorm of the season in San Francisco. In the wastewater business the "first flush" refers to the initial rainwater that runs off the street into a storm drain (or San Francisco's case a catch basin!). While the rainwater itself is clean, the stuff it picks up off the street is not. Think of the motor oil, brake dust, garden chemicals, paint, etc., that end up washing into the system.

That's where the beauty of San Francisco's combined sewer system comes into play. Since we have one sewer pipe for both our sewage and stormwater that connects to our treatment plants. Our system provides full treatment for "first flush" pollutants.

Fancy that! So why do you think San Francisco is the one of only two places in California that has a combined sewer system? Can you guess where the other combined sewer system is located. (HINT: It is Old......)

Stay tuned for the answer.

SIR Follows the Flow

2009-10-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

So what does one do when retired? For members of the Northern California Chapter of Sons in Retirement (SIR) http://sirinc.org/ retirement is an opportunity to come together to take pleasure in a good meal, enjoy good company, and tour interesting and new places. And just what is interesting and new? For members of SIR, interesting and new meant touring the SFPUC Oceanside Wastewater Treatment Plant on Saturday, October 17. SIR members enjoyed a beautiful balmy day while touring the SFPUC Oceanside Wastewater Treatment Plant located on the Great Highway.

SIR members listened intently to the water conservation, water pollution prevention and wastewater treatment process discussion that helped them to understand just what it takes to get San Francisco’s wastewater stream clean enough to discharge into the Pacific Ocean. In addition, they were able to listen to one of the SFPUC Biologist, Laura Targgart tell them just how the biology department gives the wastewater treatment plant a report card on just how well they are doing in protecting the water environment that surrounds San Francisco. Many commented that after seeing what happens after it goes down the drain, gave them a new perspective on the fees they pay, and just where that money goes.

Want to “Follow-the-Flow” to find out more about wastewater treatment and just what does happen when it goes down the drain; join us for one of the regularly scheduled Saturday tours of the SFPUC Wastewater Treatment Plant. For more information visit http://sfwater.org/tour or call 415-695-7341.

Good Question! A penny down the toliet?

2009-10-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

11 year old Chloe of San Leandro asked Channel 5 KPIX reporter Ken Bastida "What happens if I flush an object down the toliet?" Check out what a fun time one SF Sewer Guru had responding to this question at the Oceanside Treatment Plant near the SF Zoo.

Take a guess before you view and see if you get the answer right. The answer may surprise you... or maybe not since you are all such educated sewer fans!

LINK TO VIDEO

SFPUC Announces Whole Foods SOMA and Franklin Stores in SF as the Two New Permanent “Waste Cooking Oil to Biofuel” Residential Collection Sites

2009-10-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) today announced Whole Foods South of Market (SOMA) and Franklin stores as the two new additions to the list of year-round, permanent locations in San Francisco for residents to drop off their used cooking oil for conversion into biofuel. Residents will be able to drop off their used cooking oil at the San Francisco Whole Foods SOMA and Franklin stores during store hours.

The Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council Recycling Center (HANC) and Dogpatch Biofuels in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, as well as the Household Drop-off Waste Center are also collecting residential waste cooking oil year-round.

Launched in 2007, SFGreasecycle is a citywide effort by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to divert fats, oil and grease away from the sewers and recycle them into biodiesel. Used cooking oils are a serious problem for San Francisco’s wastewater system, clogging the sewers and costing more than $3.5 million each year to unclog the pipes.

Recycled oil from restaurants is estimated to generate 1.5 million gallons of low-emission biofuel each year. SFPUC has been collecting cooked oil from restaurants and food service establishments at no cost. So far, close to 800 restaurants signed up with the program, with more than 280,000 gallons of used cooking oil collected.

The past two years, the SFPUC has also organized two Thanksgiving and Christmas residential collection events and a used cooking oil drop off opportunity at the Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair, where more than 3,000 gallons of used cooking oil were collected.

The success of the collection events prompted the SFPUC to secure permanent locations for residents to drop off their used oil.

Residents who want to participate should start saving up their used cooking oil now. Here are some easy tips to avoid spilling oil:
1. Cool down used cooking oil in the pan
2. Pour used oil into a clean, non-breakable, leak-proof container with a tight lid. Consider using old containers, such as mayonnaise jars or the original container.
3. Make sure oil is free of water, soapsuds, and food scraps.
4. Drop-off your leak-proof container at HANC, Dogpatch Biofuels or one of the Whole Foods markets in San Francisco.

Here is where residents can drop off their used cooking oil in San Francisco:
* Whole Foods SOMA – every day during store hours, 8am to 10pm: 399 4th Street (at Harrison Street).
Phone: 415-618-0050
* Whole Foods Franklin – every day during store hours, 8am to 10pm: 1765 California Street (at Franklin Street).
Phone: 415-674-0500.
* Whole Foods Potrero Hill – only on the 4th Friday of the month, from 11am to 3pm: 450 Rhode Island Street (at 17th Street).
Phone: 415-552-1155
* Dogpatch Biofuels: 765 Pennsylvania Avenue (between 22nd & 23rd Streets), Tuesday to Friday 11am to 7pm, Saturday 11am to 4pm, closed on Sunday and Monday.
Phone: 415-643-3435.
* Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council Recycling Center (HANC): 755 Frederick Street (at Arguello Boulevard), Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm, Sunday 12pm (Noon) to 4pm. Phone: 415-753-2971
* Household Drop-off Waste Center: Recycle Road (between 401 and 501 Tunnel Avenue), Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 8am to 4pm.
Phone: 415-330-1400

For more information or to sign up for the SFPUC’s SFGreasecycle’s free restaurant used oil collection service, visit www.SFGreasecycle.org.

P2 Weekly Tip: Gardening With Children

2009-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Do you have a child or know of one who is interested in gardening?

Gardening is fun and helps children as young as three and four years of age to appreciate the natural world by learning the principles of environmental stewardship and understanding where their food comes from. To get your child or family involved, visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/ or http://www.sfgreenschools.org/ for more information.

Hear Two Great Stormwater Presentations Tomorrow at West Coast Green!

2009-10-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Hear Two SFPUC presentations on stormwater management practices and policies this Friday at West Coast Green!

Start your day at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Networking Cafe with a discussion of the Stormwater Design Guidelines, led by SFPUC stormwater planner Sarah Minick. Bring a coffee - it starts at 8AM!

Later, catch fellow stormwater planner Rosey Jenck’s talk in the session titled: The Water and Energy Connection: San Francisco Case in Point Friday, October 2nd, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

http://www.westcoastgreen.com/

http://www.westcoastgreen.com/the-experience/abstracts.php#energyconnection

P2 Weekly Tip: Make Way For Water To Flow Freely!

2009-10-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

The rain will be here soon! Time to start thinking about what belongs down the storm and sewer drains! Now would be a good time to clean out your roof gutter, clear your downspout, and rake leaves and debris out of your street gutter and catch basins (storm drains)!

If you attended the 2nd annual BIG Blue bucket Eco-Fair then you probably visited SFPUC’s “Adopt a Catch Basin” booth and “Rainwater Harvesting” booth and participated in one of the rainwater harvesting workshops, where you were coached on how to build your own rain barrel for rainwater collection. If you missed the event, you can always view the “video of the month” to learn how to Build Your Rain Barrel System with Chaplin and Keaton.

Remember, don't dump waste in or around storm or sewer drains. To report illegal dumping and potential storm water pollutants, or if you see a catch basin filled with debris and to report flooded streets, call 3-1-1. Remember to keep your catch basin happy, by keeping them clean!

A huge splash at the 2nd annual BIG Blue Bucket Eco-Fair!

2009-09-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the attendees who made

BIG Blue Bucket a successful event!

Over 700 San Francisco residents attended the Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair to learn new and innovative ways to live green. Residents also had a chance to visit different City agencies and non-profit booths to see how the SFPUC is leading change for our city, San Francisco, to become more energy independent and environmentally efficient.

Here are some highlights from the event:

· 10 FREE rain barrels raffled away to harvest rain water
· FREE rakes given to the first 50 catch basin adopters
· 2 high-efficiency toilets raffled away
· FREE locally grown vegetables for everyone
· FREE SF Water tote bags for everyone
· FREE water conservation devices provided to everyone
· Over 20 tons of compost given away for FREE
· Numerous I Love SF Water t-shirts and water bottles

We thank you San Franciscans for taking an active stance during Pollution Prevention (P2) Week to make strides in decreasing pharmaceutical pollution by dropping off and recycling expired medication and decreasing the City’s reliance on imported fossil fuels by recycling used cooking oil and grease. The used cooking oil dropped off at the event will be turned into biofuel to run City vehicles (like MUNI busses).

We would like to give special thanks to all of those who went paperless and “jumped into the bucket” by pre-registering for the event online. We would like to continue our GREEN efforts for next year’s event - so lets double or triple that number next year and save more trees!

We are proud to have partnered with residents, City agencies and many organizations in an effort to encourage a greener and cleaner San Francisco!

P2 Weekly Tip: National Pollution Prevention Week!

2009-09-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Proclaim P2 - Reduce Pollution!

September 21st- 27th is National Pollution Prevention Week!

Celebrate with the SFPUC and visit our Pollution Prevention booth at the 2nd annual BIG Blue Bucket Eco-Fair on Saturday, September 26th @ Jerrold Ave. & Phelps St. from 10AM – 2PM. Do your part and bring old or expired medications and used cooking oil - safely contained - to the event so they can be properly disposed of.

The BIG Blue Bucket will also showcase different environmental programs, such as rainwater harvesting, water conservation, SFGreasecycle, GoSolarSF, composting - as well as the importance of emergency preparedness. For more information or to pre-register, log onto BigBlueBucket.org.

SFPUC’s Compost at Big Blue Bucket and Community/School Gardens in San Francisco

2009-09-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Big Blue Bucket is almost here and as always, the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (SEP) staff outdid themselves again by filling close to 2,000 bags of compost!

In an effort lead by Steve Jones, Johnny Johnson and Armin (Turk) Borick and other heroes of the SEP, the work was completed without a hitch. Some of the SEP staff who filled the bags and helped community gardeners load their trucks with compost, from left to right, Back Row: Liam Fitzpatrick, Turk Borick, Johnny Johnson, Brett Watson, George Pelayo, Front Row William Huang, Howard Conroy, Jalanda Griffin, Alex Corbilla, Art Gutierrez. Not pictured above are Jose Limon, Troy Determan, Patrick Flaherty, Nadine Boyd, and John Bender.

Thanks everyone for your help!

In between filling the bags, staff also helped community and school gardens fill up their trucks with compost. As part of a new effort of the Wastewater Enterprise, community gardens and schools in San Francisco will be using SFPUC’s biosolids compost to grow plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. In the next few months, watch for SFPUC’s lawn signs around the City.

More than 20 tons of compost will be given away at the Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair this coming Saturday, September 26th, from 10AM to 2PM, at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant. The entrance to the event will be on Jerrold Ave. @ Phelps St.

Spread the word and come and join us at the Big Blue Bucket and learn about SFPUC’s environmental programs and more. For more information, visit http://www.bigbluebucket.org/.

Fun with Rain Barrels… at the Zoo!

2009-09-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

As monkeys and peacocks looked on (literally), a group of about 20 local volunteers helped to construct a new 8-unit rain barrel system at the San Francisco Zoo.

The system will collect rainwater from the roof of an historic 1906 earthquake shack in the Zoo’s new Greenie’s Conservation Corner.

District Supervisor Carmen Chu and several SFPUC team members provided encouragement and moral support for the volunteers who “learned as they built” the 360-gallon system.

Stay tuned to the SFSewers Blog for notices on future rain barrel building workshops that you can participate in (monkeys and peacocks notwithstanding…)

Learn more about the SFPUC’s rainwater harvesting program at: http://stormwater.sfwater.org/.

P2 Weekly Tip: Recycle used cooking oil!

2009-09-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Want to dispose of used cooking oil, but don’t know what to do with it?

Join the SFPUC at the 2nd annual BIG Blue Bucket Eco-Fair and properly dispose of all unwanted used cooking oil. If you start saving now, you will have plenty to dispose! Here are some tips to make used cooking oil collection easier:

ALWAYS cool down used cooking oil in the pan.

Pour used oil into a clean, non-breakable, leak-proof container with a tight lid. Consider using old containers, such as a mayonnaise jar for easy collection on storage.
Make sure oil is free of water, soapsuds, and food scraps.

Then, drop-off your oil at the BIG Blue Bucket Eco-Fair on Saturday, September 26th @ Jerrold Ave. & Phelps St. from 10AM – 2PM.

Remember, NEVER pour used cooking oil down the drain! There are numerous donation and collection sites available throughout the City, making used cooking oil easy to dispose of. Log onto http://www.sfgreasecycle.org/ to find a collection site near you.

Come to the Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair to Learn How to Irrigate Your Garden With Captured Rainwater!

2009-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, you’ve taken the plunge and purchased (or built) a rain barrel or cistern system for your garden. Congratulations! You are now officially a rainwater harvesting enthusiast! (Isn’t it fun?)

After this past weekend’s surprise rain showers you should have plenty of rainwater stored in your system. Now it’s time to think about efficient ways to get your water out of storage and into your garden.

Lucky you! On Saturday, September 26, at the SFPUC’s second annual Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair, irrigation experts will be on-hand to discuss and answer questions about drip irrigation, low pressure valves, booster pump systems and other topics of interest to rainwater harvesting, well… nerds.

When you get to the fair, sign up for one of four rainwater harvesting workshops offered throughout the day. You’ll learn about rainwater harvesting. You’ll learn about rainwater irrigation. You’ll be happy.

For more information on the Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair, please visit www.bigbluebucket.org. Check out our rainwater harvesting web site: http://stormwater.sfwater.org/.

SFPUC to Host Free “Build-It-Yourself” Rain Barrel Workshop at the Zoo

2009-09-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

Learn how to construct your own multi-unit rain barrel system using recycled food drums! The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the San Francisco Zoo are partnering to construct two multi-unit rain barrel systems in the Zoo’s newest conservation area. Come help build the Zoo’s rain barrel system and receive instruction on how to construct a similar system in your own back yard!

The two-hour workshop will be led by SF Zoo and SFPUC staff on Monday morning, September 21. Pre-registration is required and space is available on a first come first served basis. To pre-register or learn more about the rain barrel building workshop, email kbriggs@sfwater.org or call 415-554-0715.

P2 Weekly Tip: Recycle old & expired medications!

2009-09-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

How do you dispose of old or expired medications?

If you flush them down the toilet or drain they may pollute our Bay and Pacific Ocean, harming aquatic life. If you throw them in the garbage they can eventually seep back into the ground, harming the environment. Or worst, if they are kept unlocked in a medicine cabinet or drawer they could harm your family and home. Instead, recycle old or expired medications regularly. Better yet, visit the SFPUC’s BIG Blue Bucket Eco-Fair on Saturday, September 26th @ Jerrold Ave. & Phelps St. from 10AM – 2PM to dispose of old or expired medications properly.

Free food for your plants at Big Blue Bucket!

2009-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Humans are not the only ones that need food; plants need nutrition too, as well as sun and water. What's more, healthy plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere reducing greenhouse gases. Give your plants a boost and pick up FREE compost at our Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair on September 26. Check out our video to see how you will help complete the "lifecycle" by picking compost.

To learn more about the event and to pre-register online, go to www.BigBlueBucket.org! Just so you know: only three bags of compost per person while supplies last. So, hurry up and register now!

P2 Weekly Tip: Bring beauty to your garden!

2009-09-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Do you want to see more

butterflies, hummingbirds & ladybugs

in your garden?

Not only do they bring beauty to your garden, they are also beneficial insects that feed on a variety of pest insects. You can attract these and other beneficials by growing certain plants in your garden - keep in mind that hummingbirds are attracted to flower colors and nectar, not fragrance.

Try planting sweet pea, parsley, sunflower, native buckwheat, and/or baby blue eyes, just to name a few. Ask your local nursery to assist you when choosing the right flower to attract the right beneficial to your garden!

Have a GREAT gardening Day!

Keep Your Catch Basin Happy

2009-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

How? By keeping them clean, of course:
Catch basins (storm drains) are the entryway from our streets to our sewer system. They can get clogged with litter and leaves, which may cause neighborhood flooding. Adopt a catch basin and help keep minimize potential flooding. You can even get FREE rakes if you are one of the first 50 adopters at our second Big Blue Bucket Eco-Fair on September 26. For more information on how you can get free rakes, and also free compost, a chance to win rain barrels, learn about water conservation, solar incentive program, SFGreasecycle and more, visit www.BigBlueBucket.org.

P2 Weekly Tip: Don't Waste Water Washing Your Car!

2009-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

When you wash your car at home dirt, oil, and grease gets washed away with the detergent. This polluted water then flows from the street and into nearby storm drains. Car washing detergents are rich in pollutants, such as nutrients, metals and hydrocarbons that need to be treated at our wastewater treatment facilities.

Did you know that most commercial car washes are required to treat their wash water and often recycle their water for multiple washes? Ultimately saving water!

Next time your car needs a wash; think about taking it to a commercial car wash instead of washing pollutants down the drain. This will help conserve water, wastewater run-off, and divert the harmful effects untreated wastewater has on the environment.

P2 Weekly Tip: Think Before You Flush!

2009-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Do you flush sanitary or baby wipes down the toilet?

Flushing wipes can cause major problems in the City’s sewer system. The extra wastes (such as sanitary wipes, household cleaning wipes, baby wipes, etc.) that are labeled “flushable" clog the sewer system, contributing to costly cleanups and even flooding. Please, ONLY flush toilet paper and throw wipes and similar items in the trash.

Visit: http://pollutionprevention.sfwater.org/ for more toilet safe information!

Out With the Old

2009-08-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Undoing what’s been done might seem like a funny way to approach stormwater management – let’s face it, most of us think about progress in terms of what we build, not what we dismantle. But mitigating urbanization’s impacts on stormwater runoff requires a different type of strategy – it requires Low Impact Design.

Low Impact Design (or LID for you hipsters) is a suite of technologies that replace impervious surfaces like paved streets and driveways with porous ones, like rainwater gardens, green roofs and swales (swales are low tracts of land used as open drain systems).

Swale

When these technologies are applied to urban designs such as street medians, parks and schools, rainwater penetrates the earth, reinvigorating groundwater tables and streams.

Mission Bay Swale installation, Channel Pump Station, San Francisco

And there’s more (wait for it…) As rainwater percolates through layers of soil, street pollutants like car oil, animal waste and heavy metals are filtered out – a natural, ancient and very efficient process.

So when you next watch as oily rainwater pours from your driveway into a gutter, and you think to yourself, “there must be a better way…”

You’re right. There is.

For more information on the SFPUC’s LID and stormwater management programs, please visit: http://stormwater.sfwater.org/.

P2 WeeklyTip: Non-Toxic Pesticides

2009-08-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Keep Pests Out Of The Garden &

Toxins Away From Your Family and Home

Do you use any pesticides or herbicides to control pests? When it starts to rain, the pesticides often end up in storm water runoff, eventually finding their way into the environment. Pesticides are hazardous to both land life and aquatic life. Instead, use less-toxic products or alternative methods to keep your family, your pets, and your planet safe!

Visit “Our Water Our World” website at: http://www.ourwaterourworld.org/ to find a store near you that carry non-toxic products and can provide helpful tips on keeping pests out of your garden!

Cleaning: The solids journey – a lifecycle

2009-08-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you ever did some house cleaning, you’ll know how labor-intensive it is. It’s even harder when it comes to wastewater and it doesn’t end with just cleaning the liquids.

In San Francisco, not only do we clean our solid waste, we treat them well and re-use them! How? See for yourself:

Now you know, it’s an ongoing lifecycle, and the fruits and vegetables in your backyard might get something out of it. Visit www.sfsewers.org to learn where you can get some food for your plants.

P2 Weekly Tip: Stop & Scoop!

2009-08-06T10:00:00.001-07:00

Are you a dog owner or dog walker? Do you pick up after your dog? If you don’t, you should consider the consequences. Unscooped dog droppings have been linked to highly elevated levels of bacterial pollution in storm water runoff. Left behind feces can become a health hazard as well as a nuisance in your own yard and in neighborhood parks.

Don’t leave your pet's mess…stop and scoop! Picking up after your dog makes you a good neighbor and it helps reduce water pollution after it rains.

Visit: http://pollutionprevention.sfwater.org/ for more information.

Cleaning: The liquids journey - from toilets & streets, to pipes. Where next?

2009-08-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

OK, now you know, “what goes down the toilet and runs off the street, goes to pipes”. But, what’s next? Wastewater treatment plants of course!

Take a peek to a film screening on screening at our plants:

That's just the beginning. A lot more happens, to make dirty water clean again.

Curious to know? Just email WTPTours@sfwater.org or go to http://www.sfwater.org/tour to sign up for a FREE tour. I am sure this will entice you to come out and see:

Next week: The solids journey – a lifecycle

P2 Tip of the Week : Yuck! Clean that toilet!

2009-07-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

P2 Weekly Tip: Do you want to find a way to clean your home in an environmentally-friendly manner? Even the simplest ingredients such as baking soda or borax are great cleaning agents. For example, clean your toilet with baking soda and/or liquid soap. To remove toilet stains, pour ¼-cup of borax into bowl and let sit for 30 minutes. Scrub bowl well and flush.

All We Need is a Drawbridge

2009-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen San Francisco’s moat?

You probably haven’t (because it’s underground) – and it’s not filled with alligators; it’s filled with sewage and stormwater runoff from City streets. But it’s a fabulous moat, nonetheless, comprising networks of large boxes that run beneath the Embarcdero and the Great Highway, literally encircling much of the City.

Keeping these boxes from “overfilling” during large storm events is key to the health of San Francisco’s waterways and combined sewer system (so named because the system treats a combination of both sewage and stormwater runoff). But we can’t stop the rain – even if we wanted to (which we don’t).

So what can we do?

We can capture rainwater from our roofs in rain barrels and cisterns, thereby employing an “old world” technology to maintain our City’s new-fangled moat. We can also continue to invest in Low Impact Design (or LID) technologies, which are cutting-edge building methods that create places for stormwater to infiltrate the ground, replenishing groundwater and streams.

In coming weeks we’ll post more information on these hi-falutin’ LID technologies (as well as information on soon-to-be-announced discounted rain barrels and hands-on rain barrel installation workshops – stay tuned!) For now, please bask in your special knowledge of San Francisco’s underground moat, and all the responsibilities and possibilities that lie therein…

For more information on the SFPUC’s rainwater harvesting and LID programs, please visit: http://stormwater.sfwater.org/.

Building a rain barrel system at San Francisco's Cesar Chavez Elementary School

An eight-unit rain barrel system at the City's Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant

From cooking oil to biofuel

2009-07-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Pouring oil down the drain clogs our sewers, just like our arteries get clogged. You better seek medical help for your clogged arteries, but the SFPUC has a solution for our sewers. We have been collecting used cooking oil from restaurants since 2007 and converting into biofuel for use in vehicles -so far, close to 650 restaurants signed up with the program!

Now it’s time for us, residents, to do the same. Collect it and drop it off at one of our SFGreasecycle locations in San Francisco and see it used to power vehicles!

Check the websites for locations and hours:
* Whole Foods (WF) Fridays, 11am to 3pm - www.wholefoodsmarket.com/. 1st Fridays at WF Franklin (1765 California) / 2nd Fridays coming up soon at the new Noe Valley location / STARTING THIS FRIDAY, JULY 24: 3rd Fridays at WF SOMA (399 4th St.) / 4th Fridays at WF Potrero Hill (450 Rhode Island St.)
* Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council Recycling Center (HANC) - http://www.hanc-sf.org/recycling-center/
* Dogpatch Biofuels - http://www.dogpatchbiofuels.com/
* Household Hazardous Waste Facility - http://www.sfrecycling.com/sfhhw/index.php?t=d

To learn more how you can help keep grease out of our sewers, visit SFGreasecycle.org.

Remember: every drop counts!

Looking for summer vacation ideas? Tour a treatment plant!

2009-07-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of how to get away this summer without spending tons of dough? Well, check out our feature on Fox News! You can take your family and friends on a FREE tour of an award-winning sewage treatment plant. Haven't you always wondered what happens when you flush the toilet and all that water runs into a drain? Learn first-hand where we make the magic happen...

And did I mention the tours are FREE? Of course I did... I'm the S.F. Sewer Guru. Space is limited so reserve your space today at http://www.sfwater.org/tour.

Fox News video

Engaging SubSewer Engines for Pollution Prevention Thursdays

2009-07-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday on our blog, you can now learn helpful tidbits about what you can do in your home, business and garden to conserve resources and keep pollutants out of the environment. This is part of our SFPUC’s Water Pollution Prevention Program. If you haven’t already, subscribe our blog and you’ll get these weekly tips beamed to your email address.

Here is our first tip for all you sewer cadets:

Put that bug spray down!

Butterflies and ladybugs are beneficial insects that feed on a variety of garden pests. You can attract beneficial insects by growing certain plants in your garden. Try planting plants such as parsley, sunflower, native buckwheat, and/or baby blue eyes. And get ready to share your stories and pictures when these helpful critters start flying in!
See you next week! For more information, visit our website: http://pollutionprevention.sfwater.org/

A trip down the SF sewers...

2009-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

We all know that San Francisco is unique: the hills, the fog, the people, and last, but not least, its combined sewer system. What that means, everything that flushes down the toilet, flows through a drain or runs off the streets is collected and treated. See for yourself:

Have you ever taken a walk by the Great Highway or the Embarcadero? Check this short clip to see what's hidden underneath both of these and their role on our sewer system.

Throughout the month of July we will show you how our actions impact our sewer system and community. Next week: What can go down the drain and what shouldn't?

Welcome! Rain barrels and Charlie Chaplin??

2009-06-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks for joining us on our maiden voyage as we explore our award-winning San Francisco sewer system. Subscribe to our blog with your email address (box on the right) to get updates on contests, learn cool facts and tips, view videos, and best of all to find out how and when YOU can take advantage of our great eco-friendly blue SFPUC programs.

Today, grab your popcorn because you are part of movie history. Watch silent film greats Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton as they make cameos in our video: Making Your Own Closed-Top Rain Barrel System.

Why rainbarrels? Because rainwater harvesting systems like the one created in this video can be used for watering your gardens and other non-potable uses. Plus, they can reduce the impact on the City’s combined sewer system.

If you like the video, share it with your friends and family. And when you are ready to take the plunge, you can find more FAQs for download at http://stormwater.sfwater.org. No space-age tools required!