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San Francisco, CA 94102
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INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Date: July 31, 2023
To: Commissioner Newsha Ajami
President, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
From: Dennis J. Herrera
General Manager
Subject: Declaration of Emergency – Chemical Storage Tank Repair for the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant
In accordance with Chapter 6, Article IV, Section 6.60(d) of the San Francisco Administrative Code, I am declaring an emergency on behalf of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).
The sodium hypochlorite chemical feed tank at the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant (Sunol Plant) failed due to an inadvertent mixture of chemicals in the tank on May 4, 2023, which resulted in damage to the inner lining. The mixture was evacuated from the tank on June 27, 2023. A July 14, 2023 Engineer’s Report confirmed the extent of the tank lining damage. The chemical feed tank must be repaired and recertified before being placed back into service. Without this tank, the Sunol Plant can only operate at a limited capacity and loses its redundancy for the sodium hypochlorite supply.
We must run the Sunol Plant at full production capacity from September 2023 to March 2024 to: (1) support the Regional Water System supply while the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant (HTWTP) is placed offline for maintenance and (2) support the Mountain Tunnel Improvement Project, that will temporarily remove Hetch Hetchy as a source of supply for the Regional Water System which serves our 2.7 million customers.
Under Administrative Code section 6.60, an "actual emergency" means a sudden, unforeseeable, and unexpected occurrence involving a clear and imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of or damage to, life, health, property, or essential public services. Not having the chemical feed tank operational for the Sunol Plant while HTWTP or Hetch
Hetchy is placed offline will put drinking water delivery to our 2.7 million water customers at risk. The prompt repair and recertification of the chemical feed tank will allow the Sunol Plant’s production capacity to be restored.
This request for an emergency declaration is for contract resources to repair the chemical tank liner. The work must be completed by late August 2023 and is beyond the capabilities of City forces. Cost for this work will not exceed $250,000.
I am therefore declaring the existence of an emergency. I trust that this meets with your concurrence and approval.
CONCUR AND APPROVE:
________________
Newsha Ajami – President
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
cc: S. Maxwell
T. Paulson
T. Rivera
K. Stacy
R. Flynn
S. Ritchie
S. Robinson
N. Hom