A 19-mile stretch of pipeline that moves water from the Crystal Springs Reservoir to San Francisco needs major repairs that will take two years to fix, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The pipeline was built between 1900 and 1930 and is one of the oldest and most critical water mains in the regional water system, according to SFPUC.

Segments of the pipeline need to be repaired or replaced and will impact the cities of Hillsborough, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Brisbane, Daly City, San Francisco and the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County.

The project will require open trench work in Hillsborough and South San Francisco. On El Camino Real in Burlingame, however, SFPUC proposes to insert new sections of pipes into existing pipeline to strengthen it, said Susan Hou, project manager.

Sliplining is trenchless technology that should have less impacts to residents in Burlingame, Hou said.

Some serious retrofitting and pipe support work will take place in Hillsborough along Crystal Springs Road, Hou said.

The project is currently in the Draft Environmental Impact Review process and is open to public scrutiny. Public comments on the DEIR will be accepted through Jan. 25, 2010. SFPUC officials hope the environmental review process is completed by spring this year and anticipates construction to begin in spring 2011, although that is a conservative estimate, Hou said.

“Construction can begin well before that depending on public comment,” Hou said.

The project is expected to take two years to complete at a construction cost of $50 million to $60 million, Hou said.

The project is one of many Water System Improvement Program projects, a voter-approved measure designed to repair, replace and successfully retrofit the aging water system infrastructure.

The SFPUC and 27 other agencies are working together on the $4.6 billion water infrastructure program. The Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 is one of many water facilities in the region that has been identified for repair. The SFPUC owns and manages the Hetch Hetchy water system that delivers drinking water to 2.4 million people in four Bay Area counties.

The public may view the DEIR document online by visiting www.sfplanning.org/mea. Representatives from SFPUC will be available at a public meeting in Hillsborough to provide information about the proposed work and answer questions related to the DEIR Thursday, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m., Hillsborough Town Hall, 1600 Floribunda Ave.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.