The Department of Homeland Security Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis (DHS/OCIA) has produced a report on the impacts to the dams, highway and water and wastewater sectors after a scenario 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes the Hayward-Rodgers Creek Fault system in the San Francisco Bay Area.
According to the report, a strong earthquake will likely cause significant damage to critical infrastructure in the area, causing damage to 172 water and wastewater treatment systems, damaging four pipelines from Hetch Hetchy, affecting 547 dams or water control structures and rendering approximately 300 roadway segments unusable. The report says the Alameda County Water District is likely to experience substantial impacts to its system, and extensive damage to other water treatment plants will likely put them out of service for a period. Ten wastewater plants across several counties are expected to suffer complete damage.
Of the 154 dams in the area that are likely to be damaged, seven, including the Ward Creek Dam and the James H. Turner Dam, will likely experience extensive or complete damage. Damages to many road segments, bridges and tunnels in the area will result in significant travel delays.
OCIA produced the report to inform stakeholders who support development of earthquake hazard mitigation strategies and preparedness planning measures and to increase the awareness of response and recovery efforts.