The SFPUC is focused on the health of its workforce, especially those out in the field, with continued delivery of critical water, power and sewer services. And even during the COVID-19 crisis, the SFPUC’s mission remains.
While everyone is sheltering in place, the SFPUC’s sewer crews are at work maintaining, repairing and upgrading essential infrastructure, and responding to sewer issues. This type of work is allowed under the current shelter-in-place order, and the agency is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure crews and the public are kept healthy and safe.
No one should worry about washing hands or produce, taking a bath, or flushing their toilets – ever – and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s where the SFPUC’s sewer crews come in: day or night, they are on the ready to respond to any sewer issues, such as clogged storm drains, sewer odors, or backups on streets.
Burst pipes? The SFPUC’s sewer construction crews will respond to such emergencies to repair or replace pipes.
The SFPUC’s sewer crews get notified through the City’s 311 system – the primary customer service center for San Francisco, available 24/7. It is the best way to submit water, sewer and power issues any time of the day. Crews get dispatched onsite and address the issue regardless of rain or shine.
With the rain returning to the Bay Area, the SFPUC’s Storm Watch team continues to be on task for storm prep and response, before, during and after storms and ready to clear away dirt and leaves off the top of the catch basins and vacuum out debris using giant (vac-con) trucks.
What San Franciscans can do to help sewer crews is very simple: do not flush down the toilet anything but poop, pee and toilet paper. And grease does not belong in the kitchen sinks either – compost it or re-use it. Simple steps can help sewer crews to quickly respond to emergencies and perform critical sewer repair and replacement work – not pulling wipes out of the pipes or treatment plants.
The SFPUC is asking everyone to shelter-in-place, and stay up-to-date:
- Text COVID19SF to 888-777.
- Visit sf.gov/coronavirus for updated information regarding COVID-19.
- Go to sfwater.org for details on how to pay for water and sewer bills with the current shelter-in-place orders.
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