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October 2025

San Francisco’s oldest wastewater treatment plant modernized with new $717 million headworks facility

San Francisco, CA - Walsh Construction, as part of a joint venture with Sundt Construction, is proud to announce the completion of the new Headworks Facility at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Southeast Treatment Plant. This $717 million project marks the first major milestone in SFPUC’s multi-billion-dollar program to transform its 1950s-era facility into a modern, resilient resource recovery center.



Modernization for the Future
The new Headworks Facility is the primary intake and pre-treatment area for nearly 80% of San Francisco’s wastewater, an average of 45 million gallons daily and up to 250 million gallons during wet weather events. Its design and construction provide essential upgrades to protect the city and its waterways:

• Built to withstand a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas Fault.
• Engineered to accommodate 36 inches of sea level rise, ensuring long-term resilience.
• Removes grit with 95% efficiency, a 45% improvement over the former system, protecting downstream treatment systems.
• Advanced odor control technology significantly improves air quality for the Bayview neighborhood.
• Consolidated operations from two outdated headworks facilities into one modernized, more reliable system.
• Enhanced wet weather pumping capacity, ensuring the Bruce Flynn Wet Weather Pump Station can operate year-round.



Community Impact and Recognition
The Headworks Facility represents more than just an infrastructure upgrade, it brings meaningful community and economic benefits. Local residents contributed more than 414,000 craft hours, and small businesses across San Francisco earned more than $100 million in project contracts. In addition, the facility now features Whorl Whirl: Our Circular Nature, a permanent 335-foot-long public artwork by artist Norie Sato that celebrates water’s connection to nature and the Bayview community.

Industry recognition has further highlighted the project’s significance, with the facility receiving the Water Environment Federation’s 2025 Project Excellence Award and the Envision Gold Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The Headworks Facility was designed by Carollo Engineers and delivered by the Sundt/Walsh Joint Venture.



Read more about the project here: https://www.sfpuc.gov/about-us/news/sfpuc-modernizes-san-franciscos-oldest-wastewater-plant-new-717-million-headworks

Walsh

WALSH CONSTRUCTION

929 West Adams Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
T: 312.563.5400
F: 312.563.5466

Walsh

ARCHER WESTERN

2839 Paces Ferry Road SE
Suite 1200
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
T: 404.495.8700
F: 404.495.8701

Walsh

WALSH CANADA

36 York Mills Road
Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario M2P 2E9
T: 416.849.9000
F: 416.849.9100

©2024 The Walsh Group. Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) including Disability/Protected Veterans (link). All Rights Reserved. View our EEO Policy here: (link). View a digital copy of the Federal, State, and Federal Contractor Posters: (link)

The Walsh Group, Ltd. is committed to providing equal opportunity to qualified applicants with disabilities to compete for jobs. To request a reasonable accommodation in completing this application, please contact the Human Resources Department via phone at 312-563-5905 or via email at HR@walshgroup.com. The Walsh Group does not screen applicants based on their wage or salary history or seek this information from applicants’ current or former employers.   Walsh Canada Accessibility