»In which the storms outpace us

The San Francisco Chronicle has a piece on the problem of San Francisco's ageing sewers. The story notes the 13 per cent per annum increases in sewer rates for San Francisco residents, and that the $1 bln cost of the 30-year Master Project will inevitably go up.

Jack Hoffbuhr, executive director of the American Waterworks Association, an advocacy group based in Denver, said getting public support won't be easy. ... He also said San Francisco isn't alone in trying to improve an old system. His group estimates that about $300 billion is needed nationwide just to replace public sewer pipes. That doesn't account for all the other projects that go along with the pipes, such as pumps, holding tanks and water-treatment systems.

Work on San Francisco's sewers -- replacing mains, patching breaks and dealing with cave-ins -- is constant, with close to 500 repairs made a year. The older, brick tunnels are only 3 feet wide and 5 feet high -- oftentimes shorter because of built-up sludge and debris -- and full of rats and roaches, not to mention the obvious: human waste.

I was excited to recieve the nice comment card from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission th' other day.