ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year

Transcription

1 WATER RESOURCES DIVISION SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year

2 Contents Introduction Water Use Water Resources Division Accomplishments: FY Water Sources and Customers Drought Update Planning Tools Water Conservation Programs Local Water Supplies Recycled Water Program 14 Groundwater Program 16 Non-potable Water Program 17 Public Information Programs Regional Water Use Water Resources Division sfwater.org/localwater Forward Thinking ii

3 Introduction The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is pleased to issue this annual report on water conservation and local water supply program achievements for Fiscal Year For nearly a century, SFPUC customers have enjoyed some of the nation s highest quality drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy, Alameda, and Peninsula watersheds, which collectively supply the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. Mocassin Powerhouse and Reservoir, a component of the Regional Water System. Today, the SFPUC is working harder than ever to ensure a resilient and reliable water supply for future generations. While the water use of San Francisco residents and businesses is already among the lowest in the country, the SFPUC remains committed to protecting its watersheds and to using water efficiently. The SFPUC s Water Resources Division is responsible for the implementation of a robust water conservation program, as well as the development of local water supplies such as groundwater, recycled water, and non-potable water. Together, these programs supplement and diversify the SFPUC s portfolio of water resources to enhance water supply reliability and resiliency. These efforts continue to be guided by the goal established by the SFPUC s $4.8 billion Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) to reduce demand on the Regional Water System by 10 million gallons per day (mgd) by 2018 through water conservation and the expansion of local water supplies. During Water-Wise Evaluations, inspectors provide customers with tips for water-wise gardening. As California entered its fifth year of drought in FY , the SFPUC continued to actively respond to dry conditions by expanding public outreach and maintaining a comprehensive suite of conservation services. SFPUC customers responded to the voluntary 10% water use reduction and reduced their water use by 13% compared to

4 Water Resources Division Accomplishments: FY AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL WATER USE Per Person / Per Day CALIFORNIA 83 gallons SAN FRANCISCO 41 gallons 866,583 WATER CONSERVATION Water Delivered to San Francisco Residential Customers 35 million San Francisco Population gallons per day LOCAL WATER SUPPLY 17 2 New Non-potable Projects Proposed 3,802 2,509 Toilets Installed Water Conservation Evaluations Conducted Large Groundwater Projects Under Construction 200,000 Gallons per Day of Recycled Water Delivered to San Francisco Golf Courses LOCATIONS OF WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS 1, Washers Installed Rain Barrels & Cisterns Distributed Proposed Nonpotable Project Groundwater Well Site: San Francisco Groundwater Supply Project Golf Course Irrigated with Recycled Water Groundwater Well Site: Regional Groundwater Storage and Recovery Project Urinals Installed Graywater Kits Sold 80 San Francisco 20, Devices Distributed Acres of Landscape Audited Harding Park 101 San Francisco County San Mateo County RESULTING IN Daly City Colma Estimated Lifetime Water Savings South San Francisco million gallons OR Annual water supply for 7,780 San Francisco Homes Pacifica San Bruno Sharp Park Eastside Millbrae 2

5 Water Sources and Customers The Regional Water System is a public asset that plays a key role in delivering high-quality drinking water to 2.6 million residents and businesses in the Bay Area. The system collects water from the Tuolumne River in the Sierra Nevada and from protected local watersheds in the East Bay and on the Peninsula. The SFPUC delivers water to 27 wholesale customers in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties and provides direct retail water service to customers in San Francisco and a small number of customers outside of San Francisco. The Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) represents the interests of 26 of the 27 wholesale customers and also coordinates their water conservation, supply, and recycling activities. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is the largest of eight storage reservoirs within the Regional Water System. Rain or shine, it is important to consider water conservation as a way of life. California s ongoing drought underscores the need to continue enhancing local water supplies and water conservation programs, in both the wholesale and retail service areas. While local supplies such as recycled water, groundwater, and non-potable water often require a significant amount of time to plan and implement, the SFPUC is more committed than ever to balancing future needs by expanding its water portfolio. Additionally, the SFPUC continues to work with other Bay Area water agencies to explore regional water supply opportunities such as transfers, desalination, and purified water projects that can be developed jointly. PACIFIC OCEAN SAN FRANCISCO Lake Lloyd Reservoir (Cherry Lake) Lake Eleanor Reservoir Cherry Power Tunnel Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant San Andreas Reservoir Pilarcitos Reservoir Crystal Springs Reservoir SFO SAN FRANCISCO BAY Pulgas Tunnel HAYWARD Bay Division Pipelines Nos. 1 & 2 & 5 Coast Range Tunnel San Antonio Reservoir Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant San Joaquin Pipelines Tesla Treatment Facility Foothill Tunnel Holm Powerhouse TUOLUMNE RIVER Priest Reservoir Moccasin Powerhouse and Reservoir Don Pedro Reservoir O'Shaughnessy Dam Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Kirkwood Powerhouse YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK HALF MOON BAY Pulgas Water Temple PALO ALTO Calaveras Dam & Reservoir STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST SAN JOSE Bay Division Pipelines Nos. 3 & 4 3

6 Drought Update STATE MANDATES AND SFPUC ACTIONS Preceding FY , state and local leaders took significant actions to address the drought, including the declaration of a drought state of emergency by Governor Brown in January In April 2015, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-29-15, which called for a mandatory statewide water use reduction of 25%. Following this order, the State Water Board imposed regulations to achieve the statewide reduction and assigned a conservation standard of 8%, compared to 2013, to the SFPUC. In July 2015, the SFPUC launched the Drought Program to meet the state mandates. The program maintained the call for a 10% voluntary system-wide reduction while also increasing the mandatory reduction on irrigation use from 10% to 25%. In May 2016, recognizing that winter rains improved hydrologic conditions, the State Water Board adopted a new statewide water conservation approach that replaced the prior percentage reduction-based water conservation standard with a localized stress test approach. Under this regulation, the SFPUC demonstrated sufficient water supplies in the Regional Water System to meet customer demand for three more dry years. Furthermore, the SFPUC took additional measures in June 2016 to lift the mandatory 25% reduction in landscape watering for irrigation-only customers that was in place since July 2015, modify and adopt several water use restrictions, and maintain a 10% voluntary system-wide reduction. To help customers reduce and maintain efficient water use, the SFPUC provided an extensive array of water conservation services and informational materials, and launched an updated multi-media drought outreach campaign. During this fiscal year, San Francisco residents and businesses exceeded the call for a voluntary 10% reduction in water use. Single family households reduced their water use by 16% compared to 2013, while multi-family reduced their water use by 10% and commercial properties by 7%. Other sectors, including academic, government, and irrigation, collectively reduced their water use by 32%. During this fiscal year, the SFPUC saw a 13% reduction in water deliveries to San Francisco, a total of 9.4 million gallons per day compared to Other b Voluntary 10% reduction target Water Use a (millions of gallons per day) Commercial Multi-family Other b Commercial Multi-family Single Family Single Family a Water Use is based on SFPUC sales data. System losses are not included. b Other sectors include industrial, institutional, governmental, or irrigation account types. SFPUC retail water customers in San Francisco exceeded the 10% voluntary reduction request. Across all retail sectors, customers used less water in FY compared to

7 WATER USE RESTRICTIONS In response to the ongoing drought, the SFPUC continued to educate the public about wasteful water use activities restricted by the State and in June 2016 made all of these restrictions permanent. Water conservation staff investigated 835 reports of water waste submitted through San Francisco s 311 online and telephone response center, as well as through the State s water waste portal; and in response issued over 500 warning letters and conducted numerous site inspections. For more information about the water waste program visit sfwater.org/waterwaste. DROUGHT EDUCATION CAMPAIGN The SFPUC continued its multilingual Water Conservation is Smart and Sexy citywide public education campaign to capture public attention and present water conservation tips and information about the drought. Throughout the summer months of 2015, the campaign added new artwork and messages communicated through a combination of television, newspaper, billboard, bus, transit station, and social media advertisements. The SFPUC also provided free outreach materials, such as lawn signs, fact sheets, checklists, stickers, and restaurant tent cards DROUGHT EDUCATION SURVEY Water runoff from an irrigation system is one of the most common water waste reports submitted to the SFPUC. Toward the end of FY , the SFPUC surveyed 704 residents to assess what San Francisco residents did at home to achieve water savings during the drought, how long these habits might last, and how people got information about the drought. Over 97% of survey respondents indicated they are aware the State is in a drought and of those respondents, 84% believe the rain and snow from this past fall and winter did not end the State s drought. In addition, 79% recalled seeing specific advertising regarding the drought or water conservation and more than half recalled hearing about the SFPUC s free services and rebates to save water. In summary, most respondents reported they reduced water use over the past two years. The following graph shows the top indoor water conservation actions as mentioned by survey respondents. Top Indoor Water-Saving Actions Taken Over the Past Two Years Shorter or less frequent showering or baths Cut back on running faucets Less frequent toilet flushing Reused water from bathing/showering for plants or other non-drinking uses Checked for and fixed leaky toilets Reduced dishwasher use Checked for and fixed leaky shower heads,faucets, or other fixtures/pipes Reduced clothes washer use Replaced clothes washer with a new water-efficient model Replaced toilet with a new water-efficient model Replaced showerheads or faucet with low-flow models Reduced or stopped garbage disposal use 32.9% 29.3% 22.7% 20.5% 19.9% 19.6% 17.8% 12.9% 12.0% 10.3% 10.1% 42.9% Over two-thirds of survey respondents indicated they reduced their water use. These are the top actions where at least 10% of respondents who said they saved water reported taking. 5

8 Planning Tools To protect the precious water supply from disruption due to climate change, drought, and natural disaster, and to prepare for future demands on the Regional Water System, the SFPUC initiates planning studies to map out current water resources and future water management strategies. During FY , several notable reports were completed. Final versions of the plans can be accessed at sfwater.org/localwater under Sources and Supply Planning. 6

9 2040 WATER MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN (WATERMAP) The 2040 WaterMAP is a planning document that provides background information relevant to the water supply decisions that face the SFPUC. The document will provide the basis for the development of a water supply program for the planning horizon, helping the SFPUC prioritize future needs and supplies given SFPUC s ongoing obligations and new anticipated demands URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (UWMP) On June 14, 2016, the SFPUC adopted the 2015 UWMP for the City and County of San Francisco. The purpose of the UWMP is to assure long-term reliability and efficient use of supplies to meet existing and future demands. The UWMP is updated every five years and is submitted to the California Department of Water Resources. The 2015 UWMP presents the latest information on the SFPUC s retail and wholesale service areas, the Regional Water System and other water systems operated by the SFPUC, system supplies and demands, water supply reliability, Water Conservation Act of 2009 compliance, water shortage contingency planning, and demand management. This update includes projected demands and supplies for its retail and wholesale customers over the next 25 years (through 2040) and coincides with additional planning efforts conducted by the SFPUC, including its 2015 Retail Conservation Plan update. POTABLE OFFSET INVESTIGATION The Potable Offset Investigation evaluates the theoretical maximum achievable reduction in the Regional Water System for demand in San Francisco through the use of on-site supplies. The investigation builds on the 2015 UWMP update for San Francisco by identifying opportunities to offset potable demands (toilet/urinal, clothes washers, cooling, irrigation) through the expanded use of on-site alternative supplies (including rainwater, seepage water, graywater, and blackwater) by customer class (single family, multi-family, and non-residential) through RETAIL WATER CONSERVATION PLAN The 2015 Retail Water Conservation Plan provides an overview of the retail water conservation program, the factors that shaped the program, estimated water savings, and the program s effect on the overall retail water demand forecast. The planning horizon for the 2015 Plan spans a 25-year period (from 2015 to 2040) to coincide with the 2015 UWMP. This plan is produced every five years and acts as a broad guidance document to inform the development of annual action plans and identify staffing, resource, and budget needs. NORTH WESTSIDE BASIN SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT PLAN In March 2015, the SFPUC adopted a Resolution of Intent to Prepare a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the North Westside Basin in compliance with the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of A draft plan was completed in February 2016 and circulated to a technical advisory committee and other interested parties for review. The overall goal of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the North Westside Basin is to assure a long-term, high quality, local water supply for current and future uses. 7

10 Water Use During FY , the SFPUC delivered approximately 176 million gallons per day (mgd) on average to its wholesale and retail customers. Wholesale customers received 111 mgd, San Francisco retail customers received approximately 62 mgd, and retail customers outside of San Francisco received 4 mgd. (The sum of these deliveries does not equal to the total delivery of 176 mgd due to rounding.) San Francisco retail customers water conservation efforts supported in part by incentives and assistance from the SFPUC have helped San Francisco reduce total water demand over the last two decades despite population growth. In FY , San Francisco retail customers gross per capita use was approximately 73 gallons per day and the residential per capita water use was about 41 gallons per day. While this water use was among the lowest in the State, the SFPUC remains committed to comprehensive water conservation efforts that will help sustain efficient water use. FY Regional Water System Deliveries and San Francisco Retail Water Use Regional Water System Deliveries San Francisco Retail Water Use Commercial/Industrial: 17 mgd Irrigation c : 1 mgd Wholesale Customers a : 111 mgd Retail Customers in San Francisco: 62 mgd Multi-Family Residential: 21 mgd Municipal: 3 mgd Other System Uses d : 6 mgd Single Family Residential: 14 mgd Retail Customers Outside of San Francisco b : 4 mgd a Deliveries exclude 0.6 mgd delivered in lieu of groundwater to customers participating in the Regional Groundwater Storage and Recovery Project. b These customers are also referred to as suburban retail customers. c This data is from dedicated irrigation accounts only, and does not include irrigation use from water accounts that jointly serve both indoor and outdoor demands. d Other system uses include pipe flushing, firefighting, street cleaning, and water system losses from leaks and main breaks. San Francisco Retail Per Capita Demands Gross Per Capita Residential Per Capita 110 gallons per capita per day

11 Water Conservation Programs The SFPUC provided a comprehensive water conservation program open to residents, municipal facilities, parks, hotels, universities, and all other retail customers during FY Core services included indoor and outdoor Water-Wise Evaluations, incentives for replacement of old plumbing fixtures, free water-efficient plumbing devices, landscape efficiency programs, tools to monitor water use, and public outreach such as free gardening classes and presentations to schools and stakeholder organizations. For more information, visit sfwater.org/conservation. WATER-WISE EVALUATIONS The SFPUC conducted 2,509 site-specific surveys for residential and commercial buildings, providing water efficiency recommendations for indoor and outdoor uses, irrigation system assessments, and leak identification. Water Conservation technicians also helped customers identify old plumbing fixtures that qualify for financial replacement incentives and provided free water-efficient plumbing devices including showerheads, aerators, and toilet leak repair parts. This year, the SFPUC began to provide customers, who received Water-Wise Evaluations, more comprehensive reports of survey findings, including estimated water and cost savings from recommended improvements. TOILET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL) The SFPUC completed its first High-Efficiency Toilet (HET) Direct Install Program this fiscal year after providing 7,446 Water-Wise Evaluations, which led to the free replacement of 9,049 inefficient toilets with new high-efficiency models to non-profit multi-family affordable housing providers and households participating in the SFPUC s low-income rate discount program. The intent of the HET Direct Install Program was to help reduce water usage and utility costs for customers that may be unable to participate in traditional rebate programs due to a lack of financial resources. The SFPUC plans to launch a new, short-term toilet and urinal replacement program by 2017 to help retrofit the remaining inefficient fixtures throughout San Francisco residences and businesses. The SFPUC conducted a saturation study to assess the number of efficient and inefficient water fixtures in San Francisco. The SFPUC s ongoing incentive programs have helped increase the percentage of water-efficient fixtures and devices in its service area. 9

12 Water Conservation Programs (continued) TOILET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (MUNICIPAL) In August 2015, the Water Conservation Section launched a new program to replace inefficient plumbing fixtures throughout city-owned buildings and schools. The new Water-Efficient Fixture Improvement Program (WeFix) offers free replacement of qualifying toilets and urinals with high-efficiency models. The SFPUC partnered with San Francisco Public Works to replace 173 inefficient toilets and 66 inefficient urinals. TOILET AND URINAL REBATES The SFPUC provided 3,608 rebates to customers who replaced old, inefficient toilets that used 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) or more with new HETs that have a maximum flush volume of 1.28 gpf. Toilet rebates ranged from $125 for tank toilet models to up to $500 for flushometer toilet models. In addition, 114 urinal rebates were provided to customers of up to $500 for each replacement of urinals flushing 1.5 gpf or more with qualifying high-efficiency urinals that use 0.5 gpf or less. The toilet and urinal rebate programs will end on December 31, COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT RETROFIT GRANT PROGRAM The Commercial Equipment Retrofit Grant Program provides businesses funding to implement on-site equipment efficiency upgrades. In FY , the program provided incentives for a medical facility cold room efficiency project, a university laboratory steam sterilizer replacement, and a dental office dry vacuum pump retrofit. The combined estimated water savings of these three projects is 3.3 million gallons of water per year. FREE HIGH-EFFICIENCY PLUMBING DEVICES The SFPUC provided 20,632 water-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators, garden spray hose nozzles, and toilet leak repair parts to help residential and commercial properties achieve immediate water savings. All retail customers are eligible to receive free plumbing devices during a Water-Wise Evaluation. Single family and multi-family customers under 10 units can also pick up select devices from SFPUC s headquarters located at 525 Golden Gate Avenue, 1st floor in San Francisco. CLOTHES WASHER REBATES The SFPUC continued to partner with Bay Area water agencies and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to provide a combined rebate of $150 per washer for the purchase and installation of 1,571 qualifying Energy Star Most Efficient clothes washers in SFPUC s retail service area. The SFPUC also provided 211 rebates of up to $500 per washer to customers installing qualifying coin-operated, high-efficiency, commercial-style clothes washers. SFPUC retail customers are eligible to receive free EPA WaterSense labeled devices. WaterSense devices are tested for quality performance and have lower flow rates than the federal standards. 10

13 RAINWATER HARVESTING PROGRAM In October 2015, the SFPUC launched a new Rainwater Harvesting Program where residents of one- and two-unit homes could receive a free 50-gallon rain barrel and a free downspout diverter kit. In March 2016, the Rainwater Harvesting Program was expanded to offer residents and businesses generous discounts on up to two rain barrels per customer, or one larger capacity cistern. In total, 579 rain barrels and 16 cisterns were distributed in FY LAUNDRY-TO-LANDSCAPE PROGRAM This year, the SFPUC re-established its Laundry-to- Landscape (L2L) Program, offering residents a $125 discount off the purchase of a graywater kit that directs water from the clothes washing machine into the garden for irrigation. Between program launch in March 2016 and June 2016, seven discounted graywater kits have been purchased. Program participants receive training, access to a free tool kit, and on-site technical assistance to help install, design, and maintain their graywater system. LANDSCAPE AUDITS The Landscape Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) provides comprehensive landscape and irrigation assessments to San Francisco retail customers with over a half-acre of irrigated area. This year, the SFPUC assessed seven of the largest retail customer sites and identified irrigation efficiency improvements and plant recommendations for over 25 acres of landscaped area in San Francisco. With a mandatory 25% reduction in landscape water use required for irrigation customers, the SFPUC also implemented focused outreach efforts to customers struggling to meet their irrigation allocations. Resources like LTAP and My Account were offered to help customers evaluate the efficiency of their irrigation systems and monitor daily water use. COMMUNITY GARDEN GRANTS During FY , the SFPUC awarded three new community and urban agriculture gardens with grant funding to install dedicated irrigation water meters. This grant program allows community gardens to monitor and efficiently manage their water use. An L2L graywater system uses the clothes washer s rinse water for subsurface irrigation. Ridge Lane Neighbors (located in the Ingleside neighborhood) received a new irrigation water service to transform the first phase of their pedestrian walkway. 11

14 Water Conservation Programs (continued) DEMONSTRATION GARDENS AND GARDENING CLASSES In April 2016, the SFPUC celebrated the opening of College Hill Learning Garden, a new education and demonstration garden located in San Francisco s Bernal Heights neighborhood. The garden teaches local students how to create and sustain ecologically-friendly water, food, energy, and waste systems. The garden showcases sustainable features such as rain gardens, native plantings, water hand pumps, a green roof, and a composting toilet. The SFPUC is an ongoing sponsor of the Water-Wise and Natural Plant Care Demonstration Gardens in partnership with Garden for the Environment. Open to the public year-round, this half-acre site showcases small-scale urban organic food production, climate appropriate plantings, and water-efficient irrigation systems. The SFPUC sponsored 22 free workshops and tours at the garden to help San Francisco residents create and maintain beautiful, water-efficient landscapes, and learn about alternate water supplies, such as graywater and rainwater harvesting. The College Hill Learning Garden showcases sustainable features and is open to class field trips for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Garden for the Environment is located at 7th Avenue and Lawton Street in San Francisco and offers free or low-cost public workshops. To register for a workshop, visit gardenfortheenvironment.org. CUSTOMER WATER USE TOOLS SFPUC s My Account web portal allows customers to view their daily water use and track their progress toward meeting SFPUC drought targets. Since its launch in 2014, registration for My Account has steadily increased to over 24,000 users, or 14% of the retail customer base. By fall 2016, customer use increased to about 30% with the consolidation of electronic bill payment functionality into My Account, allowing customers to now pay their bill and access daily water use under one account. Account holders can register at myaccount.sfwater.org. LEAK ALERT PILOT PROGRAM Automated water meters are now in place for more than 96% of San Francisco s 178,000 water accounts, providing the SFPUC with hourly water consumption data. Utilizing this data, the SFPUC developed a pilot leak detection program to notify single family customers whose water meters recorded continuous use for three or more days. Through this program, 13,187 postcards were sent to 3,331 single family customers indicating they may have a leak and should inspect their indoor plumbing fixtures and irrigation system. Almost 70% of the homes notified addressed the leaks within four weeks. In the coming year, the SFPUC will be expanding its leak detection program to alert customers with continuous use by phone call, voic , text message, , and letter. The SFPUC will also be exploring potential high usage alerts for nonresidential customers and providing customers with hourly data on My Account. 12

15 FY activities implemented through the SFPUC water conservation program are estimated to have a potential lifetime water savings of 778 million gallons 1. FY San Francisco Retail Water Conservation Program Performance and Savings 2,534 WATER-WISE EVALUATIONS Single Family 337 Non-Residential 309 6,374 Toilets 3,802 20,632 DEVICE DISTRIBUTION Aerators 11,212 Showerheads 5,780 Multi-Family 1,863 Landscape 25 FIXTURE REBATES & INSTALLATIONS Urinals 180 Washers 1,782 Other 3, Million Gallons TOTAL ESTIMATED LIFETIME WATER SAVINGS LIFETIME WATER SAVINGS BY CUSTOMER SECTOR Single Family 20% Multi- Family 21% Non- Residential 59% OUTREACH & EDUCATION 3,007 Water Conservation Calls 835 Water Waste Reports 107 Class Presentations 58 Outreach Events 31 Garden Field Trips LANDSCAPE PROGRAMS 579 Rain Barrels 16 Cisterns 7 Graywater Kits 3 Community Garden Grants 2 Graywater Permit Rebates Seven-Year Summary: Water Conservation Program Activity FY through FY FY Aerators 124,171 Device Distribution Showerheads Other* 33,793 44,583 Fixture Installation (rebates and direct install) Toilets Urinals Clothes Washers 1,433 25,347 39,302 Water-Wise Evaluations 30, ,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90, , , , ,000 * Other devices include toilet leak repair flappers and fill valves, garden spray hose nozzles, and restaurant pre-rinse spray hose nozzles. 1 Water conservation savings are estimated using the SFPUC Water Conservation Tracking Model. Savings are estimated lifetime cumulative water savings, up to 30 years. 778 million gallons roughly equals 2,388 acre-feet of water. An acre-foot is the standard metric used by many water agencies to report lifetime water savings. One acre-foot is roughly equivalent to a football field filled with one foot of water. 13

16 Local Water Supplies In addition to its conservation efforts, the SFPUC continues to develop an array of projects to meet its policy goal of developing 10 mgd of locally-available water resources by As water supply projects typically have a long lead time for planning and construction, the SFPUC takes a long-term view to prepare for the future. The SFPUC made strides towards meeting this goal in FY , including reaching a milestone for development of recycled water to serve the west side of San Francisco, continued construction of two groundwater projects, and implementation of local legislation mandating onsite water reuse in new development projects meeting specific criteria. Together, these programs supplement San Francisco s existing water supplies from the Regional Water System and help ensure water supply reliability and resiliency. The SFPUC is also evaluating opportunities to extend its water supplies further by researching purified water, which is high-quality water produced from recycled water using the most advanced purification treatment processes available. RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM Water is too precious of a resource to use just once. Using recycled water for non-drinking purposes such as landscape irrigation, toilet flushing, street cleaning, and cooling, helps preserve drinking water supplies from the Regional Water System. For more information about the Recycled Water Program, visit sfwater.org/recycledwater. HARDING PARK AND PACIFICA RECYCLED WATER PROJECTS The SFPUC has been delivering over 200,000 gallons per day of recycled water to irrigate Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco and a portion of Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica, successfully offsetting the use of drinking water at both sites. RECYCLED WATER TRUCK-FILL STATION The SFPUC operates an automated recycled water truckfill station located at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant (SEP). Permitted trucks may use this water for irrigation of roadway and freeway landscaping, soil compaction, dust control, street cleaning, and sewer flushing. In FY , 4.3 million gallons of recycled water were distributed from the SEP truck-fill station, including 860,422 gallons that were used for municipal street cleaning and street tree irrigation. Using recycled water on the east side of Sharp Park allows it to remain green during the drought. A San Francisco Public Works Truck demonstrates how it utilizes recycled water for street cleaning. 14

17 WESTSIDE RECYCLED WATER PROJECT On the west side of San Francisco, the SFPUC plans to save approximately 2 mgd of drinking water that is currently used for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation and lake fill. The Westside Recycled Water Project includes construction of a new recycled water treatment facility within the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, along with storage reservoirs, pump stations, and pipelines to deliver recycled water. The water produced by this project will be used primarily to irrigate Golden Gate Park, Lincoln Park Golf Course, Presidio Golf Course, and other landscaped areas. Environmental review and design have been completed; the project Environmental Impact Report was certified by the Planning Commission and approved by the SFPUC s Commission in September Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2017, with the goal of delivering recycled water to customers in early Aerial view of the Westside Recycled Water Treatment Plant architectural design. PURIFIED WATER PROGRAM The SFPUC is working collaboratively with regional water and wastewater agencies, as well as research organizations, regulatory agencies and field experts, to explore the feasibility of purified water projects through direct and indirect potable water reuse. With scientific and regulatory advances in this field, and through highly advanced treatment and monitoring, recycled water can be treated to drinking water standards. The SFPUC is keen to understand what role purified water can play for the future in its service area to better adapt to future water supply uncertainties, droughts, and emergencies. In 2017, the SFPUC will be piloting a purified water research project at its headquarters in San Francisco in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), Water Research Foundation (WRF), and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF). The SFPUC is also working with partners in the South Bay to evaluate the feasibility of purified water projects. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Treatment Constructed Wetland System Raw Wastewater Critical Control Point Monitoring Locations (Reduces Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity) Filtration Processes Advanced Oxidation Process UV Engineered Storage Buffer Tank 1 Tank 2 Tank 3 Ultra-Filtration Reverse Osmosis NaOCl filling testing emptying (Filters Bacteria) (Filters Pathogens, Removes Trace pollutants, Removes Salts) (Destroys Pathogens and Trace Pollutants) Distribution An example of an advanced treatment train for purified water. 15

18 Local Water Supplies (continued) GROUNDWATER PROGRAM While San Francisco residents are not currently drinking groundwater, 80% of Californians depend on it for all or part of their drinking water supply, and have been doing so for generations. The SFPUC plans to blend groundwater with surface water supplies to increase local and regional water supply reliability and to create a more resilient water system. For more information about the Groundwater Program, visit sfwater.org/groundwater. SAN FRANCISCO GROUNDWATER SUPPLY PROJECT The San Francisco Groundwater Supply Project is underway in San Francisco and will provide up to 4 mgd of drinking water. The local groundwater supply will supplement water supplies for San Francisco residents and can also be used in emergencies. The SFPUC is building six deep well pumping stations to extract water from the Westside Groundwater Basin, as well as over five miles of pipelines to distribute the groundwater to local reservoirs for blending. Two groundwater wells will also serve as emergency drinking water supplies following an earthquake or other natural disaster, and will include a distribution system to fill emergency water tankers. Construction of the first phase of the project pipelines began in August 2014 and was completed in December 2015, while construction of the four groundwater wells began in March 2015 and is expected to be complete in April Construction of the second phase of the project (two wells and pipelines) is expected to begin in early 2017 and coincide with the Westside Recycled Water Project. The Lake Merced groundwater well under construction. REGIONAL GROUNDWATER STORAGE AND RECOVERY PROJECT The Regional Groundwater Storage and Recovery Project is a partnership between the SFPUC and three San Mateo County wholesale customers in San Mateo County: the California Water Service Company (serving South San Francisco and Colma), the City of Daly City, and the City of San Bruno. During years of normal or heavy rainfall, the project will provide additional surface water from the Regional Water System to the partner agencies in San Mateo County in order to reduce the amount of groundwater pumped from the South Westside Groundwater Basin. Over time, the reduced pumping will result in a lifetime water savings account of up to 20 billion gallons and will serve as an additional water supply during a drought. Construction started in April 2015 and will be completed in GROUNDWATER MONITORING PROGRAM The Westside Basin Groundwater Monitoring Program supports groundwater management goals and new groundwater projects by providing information summarizing basin-wide groundwater pumping, groundwater levels and quality in different aquifer systems within the basin, and surface water conditions in Lake Merced. The program also monitors groundwater elevations and water quality to evaluate the potential for saltwater intrusion, determine water quality and groundwater conditions in areas of planned groundwater development, define lake-aquifer interaction, assess general conditions in the Westside Basin resulting from historical and ongoing pumping, and establish baseline groundwater conditions prior to and during implementation of new groundwater projects. Reports summarizing the monitoring results are developed annually. In general, groundwater quality has remained relatively stable for the past decade. 16

19 NON-POTABLE WATER PROGRAM The capture and reuse of water generated on-site for non-potable purposes, such as toilet flushing and irrigation, is a key strategy for expanding water savings and diversifying water supplies in dense, urban areas. On-site water reuse can help reduce potable water consumption by up to 50% in new multi-family residential developments and up to 95% in new commercial developments. Primary sources of water include graywater, rainwater, stormwater, blackwater, and foundation drainage. The Non-potable Water Program has developed water quality rules, regulations, and a streamlined process for new commercial, multi-family, and mixed-use developments in San Francisco to collect, treat, and reuse water treated on-site. For more information about the Non-potable Water Program, visit sfwater.org/np. MANDATING NON-POTABLE WATER USE Beginning November 1, 2015, all new development projects of 250,000 square feet or more of gross floor area located within the boundaries of San Francisco s designated recycled water use areas must install on-site water systems to treat and reuse available alternate water sources for toilet and urinal flushing and irrigation. This requirement expands to the entire city on November 1, While not required to install an on-site water system under the Non-potable Water Ordinance, developments between 40,000 and 250,000 square feet of gross floor area must submit a water budget application and accompanying Water Use Calculator to the SFPUC. NON-POTABLE PROJECT APPLICATIONS Seventeen water budget applications to install on-site water systems were received by the Non-potable Water Program in FY Fifteen of the projects are individual building-scale projects and two are district-scale projects. The 17 new projects propose to offset approximately 38.3 million gallons per year of potable water. Combined with the 13 projects from FY , 12 projects from FY , and 18 projects from FY , the estimated total offset is 62.2 million gallons of potable water each year. NON-POTABLE WATER GRANT PROGRAM The Non-potable Water Program offers grants of up to $250,000 for building-scale projects and up to $500,000 for district-scale projects that meet specific requirements. In FY , SFPUC offered three non-potable grants, including one $500,000 grant for the U.N. Plaza project, a district-scale project. This project will treat and reuse foundation drainage (nuisance groundwater) underneath the U.N. Plaza fountain for irrigation and street sweeping. Overall, the project will offset about 5.3 million gallons per year of potable water. U.N. Plaza in Civic Center, the site of a district-scale non-potable water project to utilize underground water to produce water for street cleaning and irrigation. PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS INITIATIVE The SFPUC is leading a public health initiative to develop a water quality regulatory framework for on-site water treatment systems. The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) in partnership with the SFPUC is developing the Risk Based Framework for the Development of Public Health Guidelines for Decentralized Non-potable Water Systems report, which will provide recommendations for public health standards for alternate water sources for non-potable applications, including water quality criteria, monitoring regimes, and permitting strategies for on-site water systems. The project is sponsored by Water Research Foundation (WRF) and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF). More information is available at sfwater.org/np/iuws. 17

20 Public Information Programs COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND MEDIA RELATIONS The SFPUC continues to educate the public about local water supply issues and promotes water conservation through regular messaging in customer bill inserts, newsletters, social media outlets, and local media and trade publications. The SFPUC also partners with local stakeholder organizations, such as the San Francisco Apartment Association and Hotel Council, to raise water conservation awareness to their members. News stories related to local water use activities in San Francisco newspapers. The SFPUC communicates with customers through various channels, including bill inserts and newsletters. WATER CONSERVATION IN SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOLS In FY , the SFPUC continued to offer a variety of free teacher resources, including access to a Water-Wise demonstration garden and a curriculum designed to teach 4th 6th grade students about San Francisco s water resources and the importance of conservation. In total there were 106 classroom presentations and 31 field trips to local watersheds. The SFPUC provides classroom presentations to complement the Our Water curriculum. 18

21 Regional Water Use BAY AREA REGIONAL RELIABILITY PARTNERSHIP The SFPUC is working with the Alameda County Water District (ACWD), Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), and Zone 7 Water Agency (Zone 7) to develop a Bay Area Regional Reliability Drought Contingency Plan (BARR DCP) for the region served by these agencies. The BARR DCP is the first activity of the regional partnership and is co-funded by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This plan will identify short- and long-term actions that two or more partners can take in response to droughts and other emergencies, thereby improving water supply reliability. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AT LAKE MERCED Located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, Lake Merced is made up of four interconnected lakes and provides a vital link for wildlife, particularly for migrating birds. In an emergency, Lake Merced water can be used for firefighting or sanitation purposes if no other sources of water are available. The SFPUC and the City of Daly City are working together to improve the Vista Grande stormwater system, which drains the northwestern portion of Daly City and an unincorporated portion of San Mateo County areas originally within the watershed of Lake Merced. Project goals include improving stormwater drainage, minimizing flooding risk, and providing a sustainable water source for Lake Merced management. The project is currently undergoing environmental review, which is anticipated to be completed in Lake Merced is located in the southwest corner of San Francisco. Residents may enjoy recreational activities by the lake such as running, rowing, and fishing. The SFPUC also conducted remediation at the southwest side of Lake Merced, the former site of the Pacific Rod and Gun Club (PRGC), to address contaminated soils resulting from historical activities by the PRGC. The objectives of the remediation project included minimizing human exposure to contaminated soils, allowing unrestricted use of the site, avoiding additional ongoing monitoring and maintenance requirements, and reducing the potential for leaching contaminants into Lake Merced. Construction commenced in May 2015 and was completed in spring Following successful completion of remediation, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board approved unrestricted reuse of the site. BRACKISH WATER TREATMENT (REGIONAL DESALINATION) Through the remediation at the Pacific Rod and Gun Club, clay pigeons (which contain poly aromatic hydrocarbons) and lead shots were removed along the southwest shoreline of Lake Merced. The SFPUC has re-established native wetland plants to provide new habitat for the area. The SFPUC is continuing to explore the feasibility of a regional partnership with CCWD, EBMUD, SCVWD and Zone 7 for the Bay Area Brackish Water Treatment (Regional Desalination) Project, a 20 mgd capacity treatment facility in eastern Contra Costa County that could provide a water supply to be shared among the partner agencies through transfers using an extensive network of existing or planned pipelines and interties. This project will continue to be reviewed as part of the BARR DCP process. 19

22 Forward Thinking During FY , the population of San Francisco increased by over 9,000 people. Despite the population increase, water demand decreased, which indicates that water conservation is an effective strategy to maximize water use efficiency amongst SFPUC customers. The SFPUC works on long-term plans to help diversify water supplies in anticipation of future growth in the San Francisco Bay Area, and will continue to evaluate and adapt its water resource programs to respond to changing conditions and regulations. NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION Leaders from the SFPUC participated in the White House Water Summit announcing a commitment to accelerate the development of on-site water reuse projects. The SFPUC and the U.S. Water Alliance are partnering to convene the National Blue Ribbon Commission to Accelerate the Adoption of On-site Water Reuse. The two-year effort, beginning in fall 2016, will bring together stakeholders to develop concrete, actionable policy and regulatory recommendations. This effort will also foster state-level peer exchange and learning amongst water utilities and state public health agencies who are working to establish standards and practices to increase the adoption of on-site reuse in communities across the U.S. WINNER OF THE IMAGINE H2O POLICY CHALLENGE SPFUC Water Resources Divison Manager Paula Kehoe participated in the White House Water Summit in March A joint proposal between the SFPUC and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) was the winning entry to Imagine H2O s inaugural California Water Policy Challenge, which attracted over 100 submissions from academia, the private sector, government entities, and non-governmental organizations. The SFPUC plans to draft a statewide policy for on-site water systems collecting and treating alternate water sources (graywater, blackwater, rainwater, stormwater, and foundation drainage) in commercial, multi-family, and mixed-use buildings in California. The policy will cover a number of guidelines, including water quality criteria and monitoring requirements, allowed alternate water sources and end uses, permitting, and operational strategies. AWE will receive up to $25,000 in support to assist with outreach on the draft policy. 20

23 ONEWATERSF OneWaterSF is a new approach to planning and implementing projects and programs to optimize the use of our finite water, wastewater, energy, and financial resources. The principles of a OneWaterSF strategy include: Matching the right resource to the right use Working across traditional boundaries to foster collaboration within the SFPUC Engaging our communities to build awareness and partnerships around resource management OneWaterSF will help make the SFPUC a Utility of the Future, one that is better able to adapt to future conditions and challenges. The SFPUC is applying the OneWaterSF approach to water resource management. A vision document is available at sfwater.org/onewatersf. 21

24 Water Resources Division 525 Golden Gate Avenue, 10th Floor San Francisco, CA sfwater.org/localwater November 2016