As San Francisco marks the 119th anniversary of the Great Quake on April 18, the SFPUC continues to invest in seismic resilience across the City's water, power, and sewer systems -- essential services that support daily life for everyone who lives in, works in, or visits the Bay region.

Climate-forward facility sets a new benchmark for sustainable wastewater treatment, including nutrient reduction

Contrary to popular belief, a firefighter’s best friend is not a Dalmatian but a gateman at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Just ask Bob Olinger, who is a water distribution system operator, also called a gateman, at the San Francisco Water Division. Bob operates the valves in the streets that regulate the City’s water supplies, and he and his 11-person crew of fellow gatemen are essential partners to the San Francisco Fire Department.

At the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), we are upgrading some of our oldest water pipelines using state-of-the-art technology to protect our vulnerable residents after an earthquake. SFPUC crews have begun installing a special type of pipe in the water distribution system that serves Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, among other customers. Manufactured by the Japanese company Kubota, this innovative pipe has flexible joints that bend during an earthquake but do not break. This allows crucial water supplies to continue flowing to customers when they need it most.