San Francisco hit with a stinkier side of the California drought as sewer pipes deteriorate

Not enough water going down the drains has hurt the sewage systems.

The severe drought in California has recently alarmed residents of San Francisco, as its century-old sewer system takes a serious hit. Contrary to the popular belief that the drought might give the sewers a break, as it is expected to facilitate less water, it actually causes the sewage system to erode and deteriorate. While the citizens try to conserve water because of the drought, less water is sent down the drain, which tantamount to more sewage being sent down, which is not being drained like before.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission Assistant General Manager, Tommy Moala, explained why the city's water conservation ironically causes the disintegration of the sewage system. With the less water being drained, the sewage system receives more concentration of organic material, which breaks down and creates hydrogen sulfide, eating up the pipes and the surrounding concrete.

The 781-mile system of sewer pipes was installed in the city in the 1850s, as a result of the heavy influx of migrants for the Gold Rush. The construction of the sewer has undergone three phases - in 1899, 1935 and finally, in 1970, which has facilitated much of the city's waste water ever since.

The deteriorating sewage system is starting to gain attention from people, as public outcry in the social media exposes the adverse effects caused by the sewers, with the main focus on the stench it's creating. One person commented on a CBS 5 article, "Smelling feces in San Francisco is like smelling incense in India... It's everywhere." In addition, the worsening feces situation in the city caused public trolls to create a "Feces Map" that's gone viral.

The general public thrives on the puns and trolls in connection with the sewage problem, intending to pressure the authority. Local government efforts for the sewage's management or development include comprehensive evaluation studies and major planning efforts between 2005 and 2009, and seven public workshops with regards to goals and strategies were held in 2010.

With an estimated 40 billion gallons of sewage facilitated through the system, SFPUC says that they shall do their best to prevent further damage and hazard caused by the sewers.

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