School/Group Tour of San Francisco's Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant

Have you ever wondered what happens to the water from your toilet, sink, shower, laundry, or dishwasher after it goes down the drain? What about stormwater that goes into the drains in our streets? The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission invites you on a free school/group tour of our Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant, where we treat 80% of the city's wastewater. Learn the phases of wastewater treatment and what you can do to help prevent pollution of our bay and ocean. (School tours are offered only for schools within our wastewater service area in San Francisco.)

School/group liaison: This registration allows one person to register for a tour date as the school/group liaison. The liaison is responsible for providing required information to the tour takers and providing required documents to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Required documents include a list of tour participants and a waiver form that must be completed by all participants. These documents are available at sfpuc.gov/wastewaterplanttour and must be emailed to [email protected] by the Tuesday prior to the Friday of your tour.

When: School/Group tours are offered one Friday per month, May through October. Please click the “check availability” button and scroll through the calendar to see available days. Tours are from 10 a.m. to noon. Please arrive by 9:45 a.m. so we can start on time.

Where: 750 Phelps St, San Francisco, CA 94124

How to get there: Only limited street parking is available outside the plant. We recommend public transportation. Closest MUNI bus lines: 15, 19, and T line.

What to know about the plant and the school/group tour:

• The Southeast Plant is a working facility designed to meet operational needs. It is not generally open to the public, and some areas remain restricted during tours.
• School tours are offered only for schools within the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's wastewater service area in San Francisco.
• The minimum required age for school/group tours is 12 years old. Minors (12-17) must be accompanied by an adult. Adults (18 and older) must present valid photo ID.
• Middle schools and high schools are required to have one adult chaperone per 7 minors.
• The maximum number we can accommodate on a tour is 15 people, and the minimum is five.
• All tour takers must complete the waiver form available at sfpuc.gov/wastewaterplanttour. The school/group liaison must email these to [email protected] by the Tuesday prior to the Friday of your tour.
• The school/group liaison must complete the list of tour participants available at sfpuc.gov/wastewaterplanttour and email it to [email protected] by the Tuesday prior to the Friday of your tour.
• All tour takers must adhere to the safety dress code: Hard hats and safety vests are provided and must be worn at all times. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes and socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts are required. No flip-flops, sandals, open-toed shoes, shorts, skirts, or tank tops.
• The tour includes about two hours of walking, standing, and climbing stairs. It could include some confined spaces, noise, and smells (though not bad for a wastewater treatment plant!). Restroom access is limited to the beginning of the tour. The tour is mostly outdoors and could include significant sun or wind exposure depending upon weather.
• We are happy to make reasonable modifications and accommodations to enable everyone to access the tour. Please email [email protected] at least two weeks in advance of your registered tour date so we can be prepared.

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Host or Publisher San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)