Pipeline Upgrade in Millbrae Reaches Final Phase

This fall, the contractor is working on the final phase to seismically upgrade the water pipeline located underground along the hillside behind Meadows School in Millbrae.  This pipeline conveys drinking water from the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant to the Peninsula.  

Phase 2 of pipeline upgrade 

Project Schedule 

Phase 1: Completed in June 2013.

Phase 2: Completed in August 2013.

Phase 3: October 1^st – December 15^th (dates subject to change). 

Equipment mobilization and material delivery will begin the week of October 1.

This phase includes excavation, welding and concrete placement for “sliplining”, placing a new steel pipe inside the existing pipe.  

Work hours will be 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Construction truck traffic can be expected. This will be the most intense phase of construction.

We are coordinating our work around Meadows School and Happy Hall’s drop-off and pick-up schedules for safety and convenience. 

We aim to minimize construction impacts to the surrounding neighborhood and schools. We apologize in advance for any disturbance or inconvenience and invite you to call our 24-hour phone line at 

(866) 973-1476 or email us at peninsula@sfwater.org with questions or concerns. Visit the project website at www.sfwater.org/Peninsula for more information.

Project Description

Our contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., is working in multiple areas within the Harry Tracy Plant, part of the Hetch Hetchy Water System Improvement Program. Seismic retrofits and electrical upgrades will allow us to reliably provide up to 140 million gallons of water per day, for 60 days, within 24 hours of a major earthquake. Harry Tracy serves several communities on the Peninsula in addition to San Francisco.

Construction Update for San Bruno and Millbrae

Forming the walls of the 11 million gallon
treated water reservoir

Seismic and reliability upgrades are continuing at over 20 locations in the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant. A swing shift will continue to operate until 2:00 a.m. most Mondays through Saturdays. Construction lights used in work areas may be visible during the evenings; however, the contractor is working to minimize any disruption to nearby neighbors.  

San Bruno Update

Truck off-hauls from the site will occasionally begin at 7:00 a.m. Concrete trucks and other material deliveries will continue along Crystal Springs Road in San Bruno.

The new 11 million gallon treated water reservoir is over 60% complete as its concrete walls are forming into a full circle. The next structural installations will include 49-foot tall columns to support a “floating” cap with points of contact rather than an attached roof, to help the reservoir withstand a major seismic event.

Millbrae Update

An intensive period of work is scheduled from Oct. 15^th to Dec. 15^th, when the contractor will be sliplining the Millbrae pipeline. A new steel pipe will be placed inside the existing pipe that runs from the Plant down the hill to Helen Drive, behind Meadows School and Happy Hall Daycare. Equipment mobilization and materials delivery will begin the week of October 1^st. 

Upon completion of construction, the treatment plant will be able to reliably provide up to 140 million gallons per day, for up to 60 days, within 24 hours following a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault.

We strive to minimize disturbances to surrounding neighbors. The contractor monitors noise levels to maintain compliance with local ordinances. Flaggers regularly control traffic at the Plant gate on Crystal Springs Road and pilot cars escort trucks along the road for safety.

Please don’t hesitate to call our 24-hour phone line at (866) 973-1476, or email us at peninsula@sfwater.org with questions or concerns.