The master plan will outline proposed programs and projects to help maintain or improve the system, as well as “alternatives” or different ways improvements could be done. Collectively these will help meet the following objectives:

§         Improve seismic reliability

§         Replace aging infrastructure

§         Minimize flooding

§         Accommodate growth and climate change

§         Reduce neighborhood impacts

§         Improve system reliability and redundancy

§         Reduce near-shore discharges

§         Provide flexibility for future regulations

Since the launch of the Master Plan in January 2006, the SFPUC project team has been collecting and analyzing extensive data. Based on this information and input from the public and technical and citizens advisory groups, the team has identified a number of potential core programs and alternatives. Cost estimates for these improvements are being developed and will be shared with the public later this spring.  

Ultimately, proposed improvements identified in the master plan will undergo a thorough environmental review per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Programs common to all alternatives  

§         Replace aging infrastructure

§         Implement Low Impact Development (LID) wherever possible to allow storm water runoff to filter into the ground instead of going into our sewers.   

§         Increase the amount of energy produced from wastewater treatment, with the goal of making our wastewater treatment plants completely self powered

§         Reuse or recycle water

§         Create more disposal options for biosolids (solid waste)

Alternatives currently under evaluation

The following draft alternatives were developed to reduce the visual and odor impacts of the Southeast Treatment Plant (link to SE Plant problems page) and other facilities on adjacent neighborhoods, improve system reliability, and provide flexibility to meet future regulations. They reflect broad scenarios under which a number of specific projects would be included. More information on each proposed alternative will be posted soon.  

§         Upgrade the existing system to reduce impacts associated with the Southeast Treatment plant

Decentralize treatment to reduce the amount of wastewater treated at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant and provide flood control in the area near in the Mission Terrace and Outer Mission neighborhoods

§         Relocate solids handling and treat all wastewater generated during dry weather at the Oceanside Plant and convert the Southeast Treatment Plant to a wet weather facility, significantly reducing the size or “footprint” of the Southeast Plant and bringing flexibility for future regulations

§         Relocate the Southeast Plant to a new site on the Bay side of the City, and convert the existing plant to a pumping facility  

Find out more on the following pages:
 
Draft Alternatives: learn about how initial ideas will help frame alternatives
Low Impact Development: find out how low impact development can be achieved
Related programs: get information on related City programs
Other community case studies: check out similar projects other cities have done

What do you think? Take our new survey about recommended alternatives.