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SFPUC adopts drought program calling for 10% retail cut, 25% irrigation limit
Summary
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission adopted a drought management resolution asking retail customers to cut water use 10% and mandating a 25% reduction for dedicated irrigation meters, with higher excess‑use charges and targeted outreach to large users; the Commission approved the measures by voice vote.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on May 26 adopted a drought-management resolution aimed at meeting State Water Resources Control Board emergency regulations and driving additional water savings across the utility’s service area.
Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water, said the program is designed to align with the State’s April–May regulatory actions and local conditions: “For San Francisco's 8% reduction, we're proposing a drought management program, that consists of a variety of things. First of all, calling for our retail customers all to reduce by 10%.” Ritchie said the package includes targeted outreach, stepped-up leak detection and changes to billing adjustments tied to irrigation uses.
Ritchie explained how the ordinance treats irrigation meters: the plan calls for a 25% mandatory reduction for dedicated irrigation accounts and establishes excess-use charges for noncompliance, with higher penalties for interruptible accounts. He said the Commission will modify sewer flow-factor adjustments that currently subsidize irrigation use and will pursue targeted engagement with large commercial and institutional users.
Commission discussion focused on the interruptible irrigation class and whether the Commission should return with a differential requirement for customers who currently receive a discounted, interruptible service. A commissioner proposed making a recommendation at a subsequent meeting; Ritchie and staff agreed to return with additional analysis on the interruptible customers.
A motion to adopt the drought package as presented was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The resolution directs the general manager to implement the program and return to the Commission with further information on the interruptible accounts and details about notice and enforcement timelines.
Next steps and context: the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency regulations in early May assigning San Francisco an 8% reduction target; the PUC’s 10% retail call is a local augmentation intended to provide a margin that staff said will help meet state requirements and shore up supplies if curtailments on certain water rights are imposed.
