Dear Customer

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is proud to provide some of the nation's purest drinking water. In 2008, as in years past, our water met or exceeded federal and state standards for drinking water. The State of California mandates that we provide this Annual Water Quality Report to you, which includes important information about your drinking water.

With California's water supplies threatened by drought, earthquakes and a growing population, the employees of the SFPUC are working hard today to ensure we can continue to deliver reliable, high quality water in the future. We're seismically upgrading the regional Hetch Hetchy water system and we're developing new recycled water and groundwater supplies. Working together, we're protecting our natural environment and making real progress to reduce water use in the City and region.

Thank you for your continued support and personal commitment to conserving our precious water resources.

Ed Harrington



General Manager

Superior Water Quality
The SFPUC’s Water Quality Division regularly collects and tests water samples from reservoirs and designated sampling points throughout the system to ensure that the SFPUC’s water meets or exceeds federal and state drinking water standards. In 2008, Water Quality staff conducted 102,300 drinking water tests in the transmission and distribution systems. This monitoring effort is in addition to the extensive treatment process control monitoring performed by our certified and knowledgeable treatment plant staff. The SFPUC also has online instruments providing continuous water quality monitoring at numerous locations.

As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Such substances are called contaminants. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the USEPA and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. CDPH regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

• Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems.

• Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Key Water Quality Terms

Following are definitions of key terms noted on the adjacent water quality data table. These terms refer to the standards and goals for water quality described below. Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the USEPA.

• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs or MCLGs as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs (SMCLs) are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The level of a disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer’s tap.

• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a disinfectant added for water treatment below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs are set by the USEPA.

• Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS): MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

• Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

• Regulatory Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

• Cryptosporidium is a parasitic microbe found in most surface water. The SFPUC regularly tests for this waterborne pathogen, and found it at very low levels in source water and treated water in 2008. However, current test methods approved by the USEPA do not distinguish between dead organisms and those capable of causing disease. If ingested, these parasites may produce symptoms of nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Special Health Needs
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections.

These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater.

City of San Francisco Water Quality Data for Year 2008

VIEW table here

The table below lists all 2008 detected drinking water contaminants. Contaminants below detection limits, such as arsenic, perchlorate, MTBE, and others, are not listed. In the same year, the SFPUC also completed four quarters of monitoring of 25 contaminants that are required under the USEPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation. All 25 contaminants were not detected in the water supplied to you. The list of the 25 contaminants is available at the USEPA website: www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2/basicinformation.html#list. The table contains the name of each contaminant, the applicable drinking water standards or regulatory action levels, the ideal goals for public health, the amount detected in water, the typical contaminant sources, and footnotes explaining the findings. The State allows the SFPUC to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because their concentrations do not change. For certain other contaminants that were absent in the water based on many years of monitoring, the SFPUC received a monitoring waiver from the State.

Notes: (1) Turbidity is a water clarity indicator; it also indicates the effectiveness of the filtration plants; (2) Turbidity is measured every four hours. These are monthly average turbidity values; (3) This is the highest single measurement in 2008. The startup of San Joaquin Pipeline No. 2 caused elevated turbidities on 3/13/08 as a result of sediment resuspension in the pipeline; (4) There is no MCL for turbidity. The limits are based on the TT requirements in the State drinking water regulations; (5) This is the highest quarterly running annual average value; (6) Total organic carbon is a precursor for disinfection byproduct formation. The TT requirement applies to the filtered water from the SVWTP only; (7) The SFPUC adds fluoride to the naturally occurring level to help prevent dental caries in consumers. The CDPH requires our fluoride levels in the treated water to be maintained within a range of 0.8 - 1.5 ppm; (8) The naturally occurring fluoride levels in the Hetchy Hetchy and SVWTP raw water are ND and 0.15 ppm, respectively. The HTWTP raw water has elevated fluoride levels due to the continued supply of fluoridated Hetch Hetchy & SVWTP treated water to replenish the Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir, which supplies water via the San Andreas Reservoir to the HTWTP for treatment; (9) The most recent Lead and Copper Rule monitoring was in August 2006. None of the 55 water samples collected at consumer taps had lead concentration above the Action Level; (10) There were no chlorate detected in the raw water sources. The detected chlorate in treated water is a byproduct of the degradation of sodium hypochlorite, the primary disinfectant used by SFPUC for water disinfection. Note: The blend of different water sources has been variable and has resulted in varying water quality parameters due to system improvements and operational constraints. Additional water quality data may be obtained by calling the SFPUC Water Quality Division toll free number at 877-737-8297.

Our Drinking Water Sources
Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. For our system, the major water source originates from spring snowmelt flowing down the Tuolumne River to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, where it is stored. This pristine water source is located in the well protected Sierra region and meets all federal and state criteria for watershed protection. Based on the SFPUC’s disinfection treatment practice, extensive bacteriological-quality monitoring, and high operational standards, the State has granted the Hetch Hetchy water source a filtration exemption. In other words, the source is so clean and protected that the SFPUC is not required to filter water from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

The Hetch Hetchy water is supplemented with surface water from two local watersheds. Rainfall and runoff collected from the Alameda Watershed, which spans more than 35,000 acres in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, are collected in the Calaveras and San Antonio Reservoirs. Prior to distribution, the water from these reservoirs is treated at the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP). Treatment processes include coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Fluoridation, chloramination and corrosion control treatment are provided for the combined Hetch Hetchy and SVWTP water at the Sunol Chloramination and Fluoridation Facilities.

Rainfall and runoff captured in the 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed, located in San Mateo County, are stored in reservoirs, including Crystal Springs (Lower and Upper), San Andreas, and Pilarcitos. The water from these reservoirs is treated at the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant (HTWTP). Treatment processes at the HTWTP include ozonation, coagulation, flocculation, filtration, disinfection, fluoridation, corrosion control treatment, and chloramination.

In 2008, the Hetch Hetchy Watershed provided approximately 84% of our total water supply, with the remainder contributed by the two local watersheds.

Protecting Our Watersheds
The SFPUC actively protects the natural water resources entrusted to its care. An annual report on Hetch Hetchy and its neighboring watersheds is prepared to evaluate the sanitary conditions, water quality, and potential contamination sources. The report also presents performance results of watershed management activities implemented by the SFPUC and its partner agencies, such as the National Park Service, to reduce or eliminate the potential contamination sources. The 2008 sanitary survey concludes that very low levels of contaminants associated with wildlife and human activities exist in those upcountry watersheds. The SFPUC also conducts sanitary surveys of the two local watersheds every five years. The potential contamination sources identified in the 2005 survey are similar to the upcountry watersheds. These survey reports are available at the CDPH’s San Francisco District office or by calling 510-620-3474.

Reducing Lead from Plumbing Fixtures
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with home plumbing. The SFPUC is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in your household or building plumbing components. If you have household plumbing concerns, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

In addition to efforts to protect water sources from lead contamination, the SFPUC has taken actions beyond regulatory requirements to minimize customer exposure to lead in water by:

• Removing all known lead service lines from the water system in the 1980s.

• Implementing an ongoing program to replace brass meters with lead-free meters since 2002.

• Partnering with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to offer free lead tests for clients enrolled in the

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Eligible clients should call the WIC program and request a voucher for a free lead test of their tap water.

• Offering customers low-cost water testing for lead ($25 per tap). Call 415-554-3289 for a water test today.

• Offering lead-free kitchen faucets to San Francisco customers at a discounted price of $10 each ($110 wholesale value). For more information, please visit http://faucet.sfwater.org.

Keep Saving Water San Francisco!
For the last three years, the SFPUC has avoided mandatory rationing through wise management of our water supplies and voluntary reductions in water use by you and our 2.5 million Bay Area customers. However, saving water at home and at work must be a continued priority for every San Franciscan. The SFPUC offers a variety of ways to help you save, from free devices, rebates for fixtures, financial incentives and free technical support to help you identify potential opportunities for improving the efficiency of your home or business.

Here are a few things that you can do now to save water:

• Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth or doing the dishes.

• Take shorter showers. Each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons.

• Check for leaks. Do you hear the toilet running or your faucet dripping? You could be wasting thousands of gallons per month.

• Operate your clothes washers and dishwashers with full loads, even if the machine has an adjustable load setting.

• Use a broom. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways, and pavement is a wasteful practice.

• Water outdoor landscape during cooler temperatures at night or in the early morning to reduce evaporation.

For more information visit http://conserve.sfwater.org.

Storing Emergency Water Supplies
Although the SFPUC strives to ensure a reliable supply of water for our customers, a natural disaster such as a major earthquake could interrupt water delivery. Residents are encouraged to store drinking water in case of an emergency. The SFPUC recommends storing at least three days worth of water (one gallon of water per person, per day, including pets) in food-grade plastic containers, such as two-liter soda bottles, and replacing supplies every six months. To learn more about emergency preparedness for yourself and your family, visit www.72hours.org.

San Francisco Wins Federal Water Security Grant
In 2008, the SFPUC won an $8.1 million water security grant through a competitive process from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for implementing a 3-year demonstration project. The grant is authorized under the USEPA’s Water Security Initiative with the goal of timely detection and appropriate response to contamination events and mitigation of public health and economic consequences. With this grant the SFPUC is building on and expanding its existing Water Quality Security Program. This 3-year project began in June 2008 with a total budget of $11.5 million. The lessons learned through this demonstration project will be documented and published by the USEPA for future use by other utilities in the nation.

Comments or Questions?

For more information about the contents of this report, call us at 415-554-3289 or visit us online at www.sfwater.org/quality. Water quality policy issues are decided at SFPUC hearings, held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 1:30 pm at San Francisco City Hall, Room 400. For more information visit www.sfwater.org.

Call 311 to report a water or sewer problem.

Want to learn more about drinking water regulations? Visit the CDPH website www.cdph.ca.gov or the USEPA website www.epa.gov.

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