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For more than 75 years, San Franciscans have obtained all of their drinking water from local watersheds and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the high Sierras. As water supplies become more vulnerable due to drought and the effects of climate change, it is critical that the SFPUC diversify our water supplies to add more local sources into our water portfolio. By 2018, we expect that more than 10 mgd of our water needs will be met through local groundwater wells, recycled water for irrigation, conservation and possibly a desalination plant.
Program Goals
San Franciscans enjoy great Hetch Hetchy drinking water. To protect our precious water supply from disruption due to climate change, drought or other natural disaster, we must develop high-quality water sources. These new sources will help us meet all of our drinking and non-drinking water supply needs. That's why the City is taking steps to supplement our water sources through the use of groundwater wells, the production of recycled water for irrigation and the expansion of our aggressive water conservation program. We're also participating in a regional pilot water desalination project.
Using local water sources reduces the vulnerability that comes from being heavily dependent on distant reservoirs, while at the same time limiting the amount of water we need from the Tuolumne River and keeping our commitment to protect and preserve our watersheds.
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Need more information?
Contact: Suzanne Gautier at 415 554-3204 or sgautier@sfwater.org






