Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do we need this master plan?
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The SFPUC is undertaking this master plan to identify needed improvements over the next 30 years, and the costs to implement them. We’ve done a master plan about every 35 years. The first in 1899 was driven by public concern over beach pollution and overflows, the next in 1935 focused on expanding treatment and disposal capabilities, and the last master plan in 1974 was regulatory driven to protect the waters of the Bay and ocean around San Francisco. The current 2006 master plan is infrastructure driven to address problems we face as many sewers and facilities reach the end of their useful service lives and we continue to grapple with street flooding, odors, and limited options for disposing of biosolids.
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Will this master plan increase the capacity of the wastewater system?
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Our existing system has excess capacity, and we anticipate it will be able to accommodate planned growth in San Francisco. Expanding the system is not the focus of this master plan, but rather ways we can continue to maintain it and improve our long-term management of wastewater in the City.
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Who decides on what the masterplan includes?
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The master plan will be developed by SFPUC staff with input from the public, a Technical Advisory Committee of independent wastewater experts, a Citizens Advisory Committee, and various local and state agencies. The SFPUC Commission will then review and decide if the draft plan should proceed through environmental review per the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, which would be subject to review and approval by the San Francisco Planning Department. Once environmental review is complete, the SFPUC Commission will be responsible for approving the environmental findings, including any mitigation, and determining next steps.
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What does the masterplan involve?
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The master plan is a planning, engineering, and public participation process to identify, evaluate and prioritize improvements to the wastewater system in keeping with the SFPUC Wastewater Enterprise’s mission to protect public health, safety and the environment. It will guide development and implementation of a 30-year wastewater capital improvement program. In addition, it will define improvements to how the system should be operated and controlled, including possible regulatory and code changes.
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How will you involve the public in the masterplan process?
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The SFPUC is using a variety of means to inform and involve the public during development of the master plan, including presentations to neighborhood and civic organizations, distribution of informational materials, a web site, workshops and other activities.
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What was the purpose of the 1974 master plan and how much of it was built?
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The 1974 master plan brought the City into compliance with the requirements of the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act to protect the “receiving” waters around San Francisco – that is, to make the waters swimmable and fishable. Most of the improvements recommended in the plan were built and the plan itself evolved over time with a voter approved reduction in the overall costs of the program.
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What was the cross town tunnel?
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The cross town tunnel was originally proposed as part of the 1974 master plan as a way to help reduce discharge of treated wastewater into San Francisco Bay. The tunnel would have transported cleaned wastewater – also called “effluent” – coming out of the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant across town for discharge into the ocean. The cross town tunnel was scheduled to be the last major element of the 1974 plan. It was not built due to a combination of factors: design limitations (only addressed dry weather effluent), public concern about its alignment and where odors would be vented, and the high cost coupled with dwindling federal and state funding. The City met the requirements of the Clean Water Act without building the cross town tunnel.
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What do my sewer rates pay for?
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Your rates pay for the construction, operation and maintenance of sewage and storm water collection, treatment, and disposal facilities in San Francisco.
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Why are my sewer rates higher than my water rates?
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Wastewater treatment costs more than water treatment, because it involves more complex steps to remove pollutants, uses more energy in this process, and requires more extensive monitoring of the waters surrounding San Francisco where cleaned wastewater is discharged. Additionally, our drinking water is inexpensive compared to many cities. The water we get from the Sierra Nevada mountains is so clean we don’t need to filter it and we save on energy costs because it flows by gravity from higher to lower elevations through much of the water system. Because the cost for our water is low, it makes the wastewater costs appear high, when in fact our sewer rates fall in the middle or lower half of rates among similarly sized cities with combined systems.
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Why did my sewer rates increase so much recently?
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In 1998, San Francisco voters imposed a rate freeze that created an extensive backlog of needed improvements. Rates were not adjusted again until 2004, when the SFPUC had to make up for lost revenue to implement much-needed upgrades. These increases were based on careful analysis and input and review from the Rate Fairness Board, an independent body appointed by the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. To help offset impacts to customers, we also have implemented a capacity charge on new development and a low-income discount program.
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How will you pay for improvements identified in the master plan?
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Paying for improvements will require rate increases. The amount of any potential increase would depend on many details that still need to be worked out – such as the specific improvements included, the schedule/timing for implementing them, and other potential funding sources. We will be preparing a financial plan and more information on potential costs of various alternatives should be available fall of 2007. Minimizing impacts to ratepayers will be a significant factor in evaluating alternatives.
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Are you considering the cross-town tunnel again?
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The current master plan is looking at a wide range of options to address problems facing the system, including ways to reduce the amount of wastewater treated at the Southeast Treatment Plant and discharged into the Bay. While some of these options may involve new pipes to redirect wastewater to other treatment and/or discharge locations, the specific alignment and plans for the cross town tunnel will not be revisited.
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What are the highest priorities for improvements?
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Improvements that allow us to continue to protect public health, safety and the environment are our highest priority. These cover projects to upgrade or replace aged infrastructure at risk of failure.
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When will I know what specific improvements you are considering, where they will be located, and how much they will cost?
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The draft alternatives section of this web site outlines a range of alternatives under evaluation. The draft mater plan is expected in early 2008 and will include estimated costs or ranges of costs for proposed improvements. A draft environmental impact report is projected to be available at the end of 2008.
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Will this plan result in moving the Southeast Treatment Plant?
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We can’t predict at this time what final improvements might be implemented. Options to minimize the impact of the wastewater system on residents in the Bayview neighborhood will be included among alternatives evaluated, ranging from ways to divert all or some of the flow treated at the Southeast Plant, to moving the plant entirely. What is recommended in the master plan will be based on extensive evaluation of potential benefits and impacts to the public, the environment, and the economy.
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