Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
After the 1906 earthquake, fires destroyed much of San Francisco, made worse by a lack of water to fight them. In response, the city built the Emergency Firefighting Water System (EFWS), a dedicated high-pressure system designed to protect lives and property when it matters most.
Today, the EFWS supports firefighters year-round and provides critical backup after major disasters. The SFPUC is expanding the system to the city’s west side, adding new pipelines, pump stations, and access to over 1.7 billion gallons of water from Lake Merced.
This investment ensures that when the next emergency happens, San Francisco is ready.
After the 1906 earthquake, fires destroyed much of San Francisco, made worse by a lack of water to fight them. In response, the city built the Emergency Firefighting Water System (EFWS), a dedicated high-pressure system designed to protect lives and property when it matters most.
Today, the EFWS supports firefighters year-round and provides critical backup after major disasters. The SFPUC is expanding the system to the city’s west side, adding new pipelines, pump stations, and access to over 1.7 billion gallons of water from Lake Merced.
This investment ensures that when the next emergency happens, San Francisco is ready.
