Van Ness construction crew strikes water main to City Hall

San Francisco City Hall lost water service Friday afternoon.

Building management reported in an email to City Hall employees that construction crews working on the Van Ness Avenue Improvement Project hit a water main that leads to the municipal hub.

Officials said water service would return around 1:30 p.m. 

When service was not restored by 2:00 p.m., sheriff’s deputies evacuated public from the building.

The issue was fixed at 2:30 p.m., but the building’s water facilities are still not be available to allow for required testing.

Bill Barnes with the City Administrator’s Office said the Department of Elections will continue to count ballots from Tuesday’s election.

Barnes said the Department of Public Works is working to bring portable toilets for the public and election staff.

City Hall will be closed for most functions for the remainder of Friday.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.