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SFPUC: reservoirs below seasonal norm; staff urges continued 10% voluntary conservation
Summary
Deputy GM Michael Carlin told the commission San Francisco system storage was about 63% on Feb. 1, below the roughly 70% target for this time of year, and staff recommended continuing a 10% voluntary conservation program to reduce the chance of mandatory rationing.
Deputy General Manager Michael Carlin told commissioners on Feb. 10 that as of Feb. 1 the system’s reservoirs were at about 63% of desired storage for the season, below the typical ~70% level. He said local precipitation has been low and that Calaveras Dam remains constrained to roughly one‑third of its normal full pool while the replacement project proceeds.
"Our system — we are down quite a bit," Carlin said, adding that while late storms could help, the season is advanced and staff is watching updated snow surveys and storage trends closely. Carlin said that operational steps include using the San Joaquin pipelines to bring additional water down from the Sierras to refill local reservoirs and that transfers to Don Pedro Water Bank remain an operational option.
Carlin said staff’s sensitivity analysis shows a roughly 53% chance that continued adherence to the current 10% voluntary conservation level will prevent deeper rationing triggers; he urged the public and wholesale partners to maintain conservation. "We need to continue those activities and that outreach that we have been doing," Carlin said.
Commissioners asked for more detail on how a mandatory rationing program would be structured, including household water budgeting, per‑capita options and an appeals process; staff replied that more detailed shortage allocation and retail shortage allocation plans will be brought back in the coming weeks for policy review.
