The Hetch Hetchy watershed, an area located in Yosemite National Park, provides approximately 85% of San Francisco's total water needs. Spring snowmelt runs down the Tuolumne River and fills Hetch Hetchy, the largest reservoir in the SFPUC system. This surface water in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is treated, but not filtered because it is of such high quality.
The Alameda and Peninsula Sources
Together the Alameda and Peninsula watersheds produce about 15% of the total water supply. The Alameda watershed, located in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, contributes surface water supplies captured and stored in two reservoirs: Calaveras and San Antonio. The Sunol Filter Galleries located near the Town of Sunol, are a groundwater source supplying less than one percent of San Francisco's water. The Peninsula watershed in San Mateo County contributes surface water supplies captured and stored in lower and upper Crystal Springs and San Andreas Reservoirs and in two smaller reservoirs, Pilarcitos and Stone Dam. The 6 reservoirs in the Alameda and Peninsula watersheds capture rain and local runoff. Some also store Hetch Hetchy water for use by San Francisco. These local water sources and groundwater from the Sunol filter galleries are treated and filtered before delivery.
The City and County of San Francisco Retail Water Demands and Conservation Potential report is now available. This report was prepared for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission by Margaret A. Hannaford, P.E. and Hydroconsult, Inc. Read more
The proposed Regional Groundwater Storage and Recovery Project would balance the use of both groundwater and surface water to increase water supply reliability during dry years or in emergencies. The proposed project is located in San Mateo County and is sponsored by the SFPUC in coordination with its partner agencies, the California Water Service Company, City of Daly City and City of San Bruno. Read more
On December 13, 2005, the SFPUC adopted the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan for the City and County of San Francisco. A Public Draft of the document was released in October 2005 and a Public Hearing was held on November 9, 2005. Read more
