HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY JUST AND SUSTAINABLE SEWER SYSTEM MASTER PLAN FOR SAN FRANCISCO

WHEN & WHERE:

January 27, 10:00 am - Southeast Community Facility, 1800 Oakdale St.

WHY:

This week the SFPUC will present four major conceptual options for San Francisco's Sewage System Master Plan. While the PUC staff and consultants have worked hard to listen to and incorporate the ideas and priorities of advocates of smart water management alternatives, the plan has a long way to go and much room for improvement.

Among the problems:

· Few of the major policy decisions that must be made by the Commission in order to achieve a state of the art water management system have yet to be identified.

· An examination alternative locations for the Southeast treatment plant has not begun in earnest.

· Proposals for green infrastructure lack quantifiable programs and goals, and have focused strictly on large-scale plumbing alternatives.

· Efforts that should form key components of the Master Plan, such as stormwater and watershed planning are moving at a slower timetable than the master plan process and will not be complete until the end of spring

HOW

To remedy these problems, SWAle – the Sustainable Watersheds Alliance – has developed seven major goals for the Sewage System Master Plan. These are:

· Redress the environmental injustices created by the last Master Plan – the Bayview shouldn't bear the sewage burden for the City's east side.

· Continually and significantly reduce Pollutant loading to the Bay and Ocean – Disposal of treated water

· Minimize the volume of water entering the system for treatment – Make trees and green alternatives a fundamental part of the infrastructure, not just 'green-bunting' on large pipes, to reduce the volume of water flowing into the sewers

· Build in reliability and flexibility into the system - A decentralized system will help us respond to catastrophic events and address water supply issues;

· Provide environmental benefits – The rebuilding of the sewer system is an opportunity for tree canopy expansion, habitat restoration, open space expansion, and creek daylighting

· Take proactive steps to address the impacts of climate change – Plan for a rise in sea level by reducing the need to pump large amounts of sewage and stormwater in low lying areas. Make water treatment a part of every large development

· Achieve economic and environmental sustainability. - The solution to one problem shouldn't become the cause of another. Minimize waste, chemical use, and energy demand.