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Projects in Focus - Sutro Reservoir

Image of Press Release #14
September 26, 2013

Tucked in the Midtown Terrace neighborhood and at the base of Mt. Sutro, the Sutro Reservoir is a 250,000 sq. ft. dual basin reservoir that provides over 20% of the City of San Francisco's drinking water. In June 2012 Amoroso entered into a contract with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to complete the $27 million, two and one half year rehabilitation and seismic retrofit of the reservoir. Listed as the last reservoir project under the SFPUC's Water System Improvement Program (WISP) the Sutro improvements include: removal and disposal of existing asphaltic floor liner, roof strengthening shear walls, cast-in-place moment frames, column stabilization and strengthening, fiber reinforced polymer protection at the top and underside of existing concrete roofs, girders, and joists, new 8 inch, 15 inch, and 20 inch concrete liners, as well as new fluid applied waterproofing system across the entire roof surface. At the interior of the West Basin, hold down anchors (Micropiles) were drilled and inserted to depths varying from 30 - 65 feet. These anchors were placed in groups of four at the North moment frame and shear wall corners and are designed to hold the basin down during a major seismic event.

The reservoir has provided a steady stream of work for our carpenters and laborers considering all vertical and horizontal formwork installations are being self performed by Amoroso. This includes all shearwalls, moment frames, buttress walls, roof collector/connectors and perimeter crest beams. To date, over 5,000 cubic yards of concrete have been placed inside the West Basin. On top of concrete formwork we are also self performing the installation of 176 stainless steel louvers, four hand operated sluice gates and miscellaneous coatings. Currently, the West Basin is close to 90% complete with expected turnover to the PUC for refilling at the end of September/Early October 2013. The work in the East Basin is projected to begin in early November of this year.

Once the Sutro seismic rehabilitation is finished it will mark the 4th reservoir we will have successfully completed for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

These reservoirs have benefited greatly from the support of Amoroso yard operations. Whether converting diesel and gas powered equipment to propane, negotiating specialized equipment purchases (propane powered excavator, bob cats, boom forklift and a special concrete grinding machine), or coordinating on tight delivery/pick-up windows, the yard has played an important role in this project's current success.  We tip our caps to Dan, Jorge, Hector and Ernie for all of their hard work.

The lessons learned from the University Mound, Stanford Heights, and Pulgas Reservoir projects have paid off during development of Sutro's schedule and budget.  We are confident that the momentum built during the completion of the West Basin will transfer over into the East Basin once access is received in the coming months.

 
 
"The success of the project is due to the collaborative and proactive approach by S. J. Amoroso and the entire project team. The results can be seen in the equality of construction, adherence to schedule, and commitment to safety while meeting the State's goals for the project… This is the third competitively bid construction project our office has successfully completed with S. J. Amoroso and would highly recommend them." Diane Elliott, Project Director III ~ Department of General Services
> Projects in Focus - Sutro Reservoir
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