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Emergency Firefighting Water System
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"By providing critical funding support for our Emergency Firefighting Water System, this bond measure will help ensure that the City is ready and prepared for major fire events, including those that may occur following an earthquake. When we support long-term capital programs like the ESER Bond, we make San Francisco a more resilient place now, and for future generations."
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-Harlan L. Kelly, Jr., General Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

What is the Emergency
​Firefighting Water System?

The Emergency Firefighting Water System is an independent high-pressure water supply system dedicated to fire protection and suppression.  It was installed in 1913 in response to the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 and consists of a 135-mile pipeline network, a high-elevation reservoir with two large-capacity tanks, two pumping stations, three fireboats and underground water storage tanks (cisterns).

What improvements will be made?

Under this phase of the ESER program, many of the upgrades will focus on improving Emergency Firefighting Water System capabilities in the City’s western neighborhoods. The work will include improvements to the core facilities, water sources, pipelines and tunnels.
Download the
ESER 2020 Emergency Firefighting Water System Factsheet (PDF)

ESER 2010 and 2014: Progress Made​

Since the passage of ESER 2010, the City has implemented projects to increasingly improve the Emergency Firefighting Water System’s seismic reliability and range of coverage. With previous ESER funds, critical reliability upgrades were made at the three primary water sources: Twin Peaks Reservoir, Ashbury Heights Tank and Jones Street Tank. Upgrades also were made to Seawater Pump Station #1, which is one of the secondary sources of water for the system. Structural and seismic upgrades to Seawater Pump Station #2 began in late 2018 and are estimated to be complete in 2020. Bond funds also paid for the construction of 30 new cisterns, 15 of which are located in the Sunset and Richmond districts, and used to improve and expand the water system’s pipelines and tunnels. Six pipeline and tunnel projects have been completed to date, with seven more currently in planning, design or construction.

Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond Program | City and County of San Francisco