Water Line Replacement Construction to Begin

The Old Town Homeowners and Renters Association met Tuesday night in Morelos Hall to raise critical questions of quality of life, neighborhood communication and taxpayer dollars to a presentation concerning the The replacement, which is to begin construction next week, will replace a pipe installed during the 1930s to create a more seismically safe water system.

“Don’t discount what these water lines can do,” said Public Works Director Terry White. “If one of these burst, you could easily obliterate two or three homes.”

The replacement of the 19-mile pipe is one of 86 unique water projects brought forth by the $4.6 billion Hetch Hetchy Water Improvement Program. The 167 total miles of pipeline that composes the Hetch Hetchy Water System, which lies on three major fault lines, contains portions of pipes dating back to the 1800s. Construction, headed by Rangers Pipeline, Inc., will begin next week after July 4 and aims to complete in August.

“We’re hoping to get out of the school are before students get back,” said Daniel Jaimes, communications liaison with Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 Replacement Project.

For some, such as Sonny Koya who lives on Claremont Avenue, experiences with construction in South San Francisco have been notably negative.

“I know they’re bringing water, and we need it, but let’s keep on schedule,” he said. “We have suffered once, and I’m not going to tolerate it a second time.”

Jaimes assured that the schedule will be kept and that the project will always aim to end as early as possible. Koya, who has asthma, also voiced concerns of environmental hazards from construction.

“I survived the last invasion,” Koya said. “I’m personally going to be monitoring this and I’m not going to tolerate dust.”

Jaimes told meeting attendees that there are specific officers who monitor environmental concerns.

“We are going to be very vigilant on that end,” Jaimes said.

Others were concerned with the lack of communication with the local community who will potentially be affected by construction.

The current requirement to send notices to those 300 feet from a construction site has had little influence, Marc Teglia said.

“Very few people are getting your fliers,” said the former Planning Commissioner. “The Planning Commission always thought that 300 feet is inadequate. The entire neighborhood is affected.”

Tom Carney said he did not receive a notice of public meeting in his neighborhood until the day before the meeting was scheduled.

“We are definitely doin our best to step up communication,” Jaimes said.

Carney also addressed the 18 percent increase in water rates due to the Water Improvement Program.

“What a tremendous rate,” he said. “It’s such a short period for such a high injection.”

Jaimes responded with an estimate that most would only see an increase of $10.

“We have 2.5 million customers who are all sharing that bill,” Jaimes said.

Carney disagreed by saying $10 can be vital to a single unemployed parent:"It may be the difference between eating and not eating.”

If the increase in rates is dedicated to the program, Carney said, why could the contractor, who will dig up and possibly damage the street, not also repave the streets that the taxpayers pay for?

“The taxpayers and I paid for that street,” Carney said.

Others agreed that it might be an opportunity to stretch city dollars to repave and construct sidewalks while the contractors are already there.

White said the city has been waiting for the opportunity to repave the streets after the construction is completed.

“The reason we’re not touching the streets is because we know they’re coming,” he said. “We’ve been waiting to put in that money.”

But as far as placing a sidewalk, White said the idea yet to be on the “radar screen.”

Any damage done to the streets, White said, will be the contractors responsibility and will be dealt with accordingly.

The association decided to set a date in August to give a mid-construction review of the project and voice any concerns or frustrations to project representatives.

Until then, the association and the city will be closely evaluating the project and making sure no damages are incurred.

“We will be watching them like a hawk,” White said.