Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Supply topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SFPUC says reservoirs recovering as public presses for notice on groundwater project
Summary
At a May PUC meeting staff reported reservoir storage at about 66% of capacity and near‑term water-supply stability, while public commenters urged the commission to delay the Groundwater Supply Project and notify residents — including in multiple languages — about planned mixing of groundwater into Hetch Hetchy supplies.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission officials on May 21 said overall reservoir storage is in a better position than earlier in the drought year, while public commenters urged the agency to delay a groundwater blending project until residents are properly notified.
At a regular meeting, Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water, told commissioners the PUC—s total reservoir storage is about 66% of maximum, with roughly 464,000 acre-feet available for supply. Ritchie said precipitation at Hetch Hetchy stands at about 57% of normal for the year and that Hetch Hetchy Reservoir itself is "almost 91% of capacity," while the regional water bank is about 42% of maximum. Snowpack has melted and is contributing to runoff into reservoirs, he said. Ritchie also said the PUC is maintaining a voluntary 10% demand reduction request and will reassess in June whether to recommend stronger measures.
Ritchie warned the commission that the State Water Resources Control Board is considering curtailment notices affecting pre-1914 water rights and that staff, together with legal counsel, is examining potential impacts and emergency regulation scenarios. He also updated the commission on the Lower Cherry Aqueduct emergency rehabilitation project and said the PUC is seeking drought-relief funding.
The management briefing shifted into a contentious public‑comment exchange when members of the public asked for broader outreach about the agency—s Groundwater Supply Project, which will mix groundwater into San Francisco—s system. John M. Kelly told the commission: "A decision to insert groundwater into our legendary, Hetch Hetchy, high quality drinking water should not be subterranean," and asked that the PUC "immediately send notice to all San Francisco residents, informing them of your historic decision to change the composition and quality of our drinking water." Another commenter called the project a "juggernaut" that "needs to be delayed until San Franciscans know about it."
A speaker who identified herself as a doctor urged the PUC to provide notices in languages spoken by Latinos, Asians, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders so non‑English speakers understand the change. Those comments followed repeated public statements that few San Franciscans were aware the project was approved and that it would proceed in both drought and non-drought years.
General Manager Kelly and commissioners repeatedly framed the issue as one of public outreach and communication. The commission did not adopt any immediate policy change on the project during the meeting; public commenters asked for formal notification and a broader outreach plan, which commissioners indicated they would consider.
Other operational details noted in the briefing: staff said they are targeting 150,000 acre-feet in Cherry Reservoir by Jan. 1 as a management objective, and that the PUC has launched a "My Account" website to let individual customers with meters view daily usage. Ritchie said some wholesale customers have been encouraged to implement measures requested by the governor—s April proclamation and that outreach campaigns for residents and wholesale customers are planned for June.
The commission wrapped the item with no final directive recorded on the groundwater project; commissioners asked staff to report back and suggested further discussion of communications and outreach strategies at future meetings.
