Service Alerts
Your service may be interrupted for a variety of reasons. We make every effort to notify customers before interrupting service if a service outage is related to planned maintenance or improvement activities. However, emergency repairs require service to be shut off without advance notice. SFPUC crews work tirelessly 24/7 to monitor the system and respond to water main breaks, power outages, and sewer issues regardless of weather, holiday, or time of day. If you are experiencing a water, power, or sewer emergency or service problem call our 24-hour hotline at 3-1-1 or (415) 701-2311 from outside SF or log on at sf311.org.
Service interruptions are posted on Nextdoor by neighborhood and may be listed below.
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Power Outage: Treasure Island, Gateview and Avenue B
12/19/2024 4:02 PM: SFPUC crews have located the cause of the outage and anticipate restoring power at approximately 9 p.m. Please note that time is subject to change as work progresses. Thank you again for your continued patience. If you have questions, please contact 3-11 or if applicable, your property manager.
12/19/2024 7:44 AM: SFPUC crews are continuing to work on restoring power to impacted buildings and units. We will provide a status update every few hours until resolution. Thank you for your continued patience.
12/18/2024 5:15 PM: SFPUC crews continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power service. If you have questions, please contact 3-1-1 or if applicable, your property manager. Thank you once again for your patience.Electrical service is interrupted to buildings along Gateview and Avenue B. SFPUC crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to locate and repair the fault responsible for the outage. The fault is known to be on an underground segment of cable serving this area. Estimated time of restoration is uknown.
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Treasure Island / Yerba Buena Island Chlorine Courtesy Notice
12/17/24
What is happening:
On Wednesday 12/18/24 the SFPUC will be temporarily adding small amounts of chlorine as a disinfectant for the water being supplied on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. Chlorine will be used for 1-2 days to boost disinfection levels in the area.Some residents might notice a chlorine taste or smell in their tap water during this time. Following this temporary switch, the disinfectant will be returned to chloramine, which has less chlorinous taste and smell in tap water.
Why is this happening?
One of the reasons for this temporary boost is that less water is used during the fall and winter months. When water stagnates the amount of disinfectant in the system decreases. By making adjustments in our water disinfection practices we can prevent any potential water quality issues.San Francisco enjoys some of the highest quality water in the nation. We always strive to maintain this high quality through constant water quality monitoring and system maintenance. Introducing chlorine, is one of a number of standard practices used periodically by water utilities to maintain water quality.
Are there any health effects?
No. The amount of chlorine being introduced is approved by Water Resources Control Board and within regulatory limits.Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. Any chlorine you might taste or smell will be temporary and last for approximately 4 to 7 days. If you find the tap water unpleasant to drink, you can add a slice of orange or lemon to decrease the chlorine taste or smell, or if you wish, you can boil water before drinking
Where do I call for additional questions or concerns?If you have questions or concerns, dial 3-1-1. A Water Quality Inspector will get back to you within a business day.
Learn more about Water Main Breaks and Power Outages
Water Main Breaks
SFPUC operates and maintains 1,200 miles of water pipelines also called water mains in San Francisco. Approximately 20% of San Francisco’s water pipes are about 100 years old. Although we have an active program to replace aging and vulnerable water mains each year, we are not able to prevent all water main breaks. On average, there are between 100 to 200 water main breaks in our system per year. Learn more about water main breaks.
During a water main break, customers near the break may experience temporary changes to their water such as discolored water. Open the cold water tap as close to your meter (the sidewalk) as possible, and let it run for 3 to 5 minutes. If it is still brown or milky, wait one hour and repeat. Learn more about dirty or discolored water.
Power Outages
Power outages can occur for a variety of reasons – whether unplanned or planned. We recognize the inconvenience that a loss of electricity can cause. We want to make sure you are prepared in the event of a service interruption and how you can stay safe.
Learn more about power outages, including how to prepare for planned outages and what to do during an outage.