Drought update

Our Water Shortage Contingency Plan outlines six drought stages and regulations/prohibitions we may implement for each stage. It includes adopting any regulations imposed by the State Water Resources Control Board (as was done in the last drought and the current drought) or our water wholesaler, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. It also allows the City Council flexibility to include additional water-saving measures.

Governor Newsom’s March 28, 2022, Executive Order N-7-22 required the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to adopt additional water conservation emergency regulations and ban “non-functional turf” irrigation for commercial, industrial and institutional water users. On May 24, 2022, the State Water Board adopted a resolution requiring urban water suppliers to implement, at a minimum, the demand reduction actions listed in their Water Shortage Contingency Plan for drought Stage 2 (up to 20% water use reduction from fiscal year 2019-2020 levels) and ban “non-functional turf” irrigation for commercial, industrial and institutional water users. The State Water Board defines “non-functional turf” as turf that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events. Non-functional turf does not include sports fields. The State Water Board defines “commercial, industrial and institutional” as including homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, community service organizations, and other similar entities but does not include the residences of these entities’ members or separate interests.

“Non-functional turf” is turf on commercial, industrial and institutional properties (including homeowners’ associations, HOAs) that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events. Non-functional turf does not include sports fields.

Commercial, industrial, and institutional users cannot irrigate non-functional turf. These users include homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, community service organizations, and other similar entities but does not include the residences of these entities’ members or separate interests.

Every water user must follow the two days per week irrigation schedule and hours.

Exceptions include:

• Hand watering with a bucket or similar container or with a continuously monitored hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle or similar device
• Watering trees
• Adjusting or repairing an irrigation system

We do not plan to investigate water use for individual customers at this time. We are requesting each customer reduce their water use by up to 20% compared to 2019-20 levels, as practicable, which we hope to achieve systemwide.

We can provide you with this information. Please contact us at 650-330-6750.

The purpose of the drought surcharge is to recover lost revenue (due to less water sales) in order for the water fund to meet target reserves and cover operating, maintenance and capital expenditures. Drought surcharges are only in effect if the City Council declares a drought and specifies the drought stage as outlined in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The City Council declared a Stage 2 drought May 24, 2022, and the drought surcharge of $1.40 per CCF will appear on August water bills for July water use.

The surcharge is based on total water use so water bill charges will increase with more use. There is a drought surcharge of $1.40 per CCF (1 CCF = one hundred cubic feet = 748 gallons = 1 unit of water).

The drought Stage 2 water regulations are available on the drought update webpage. They are in addition to the drought Stage 1 water regulations the City Council adopted March 1, 2022.

We understand that many water users have already implemented water-saving practices from the last drought and are continuing those water-saving practices. If the State Water Board or our water wholesaler, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, imposes mandatory regulations, we are required to implement them, and we may implement other appropriate actions in order to meet our water reduction goal. We try to be as fair as possible when we develop measures.

We are planning to implement the automated meter infrastructure project this year which will replace/retrofit all water meters by December 2023. This year we also plan to transition to a user-friendly customer portal that will allow water users access to hourly water use on their computers and mobile devices.

The regulations will remain in effect until the Governor and State Water Board declare the drought emergency is over, and the City Council adopts a no drought water conservation plan.

The State Water Board regularly evaluates water supplies throughout California. Based on their findings they may implement stricter regulations in the future.