State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Alleviating Flooding in San Francisco With Civic Tech Volunteers

Data-Smart City Solutions: While San Francisco’s lush rolling hills define iconic destinations like Lombard Street and Nob Hill, they also make the city particularly prone to flooding after heavy rains. Water quickly inundates low-lying areas and, while the city has over 25,000 storm drains to help shepherd the water away, these storm drains can quickly become clogged with debris, causing localized flooding. In addition to being an inconvenience for pedestrians and drivers, this flooding can cause significant damage to properties and city infrastructure.

Keeping drains clear to prevent serious flooding is a challenge for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), the department charged with maintaining the storm drain system. Although SFPUC proactively targets known problem drains, the Commission does not have the resources to clear every drain before every storm.

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