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SFPUC hearing flags multi‑million‑gallon shortfall; desalination and transfers discussed
Summary
SFPUC staff warned of a multi‑million‑gallon‑per‑day shortfall tied to regulatory flow commitments and growing demand, and outlined options — conservation, transfers and a regional brackish‑water desalination project — while wholesale customers urged a near‑term strategy to address contractual obligations.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission staff told commissioners the regional water system faces a substantial supply gap that will require a mix of conservation, transfers and new projects to close.
Assistant General Manager for Water Steve Ritchie said the system’s non‑drought level of service target is about 265 million gallons per day (MGD) and that the commission’s drought goal limits rationing to a maximum of 20% system‑wide — a system‑wide shortage equivalent to roughly 53 million gallons per day. He said regulatory in‑stream flow commitments (about 12.8 MGD combined for San Mateo Creek and Alameda Creek) and other policy choices create an average‑year shortfall currently estimated between 7.4 million and 12.8 million gallons per day, with a larger potential policy shortfall if the commission chooses to serve additional wholesale customers in future years.
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