Mayors Water Council

Newsletter of the Mayors Water Council of The United States Conference of Mayors

Winter 2008

Mayors tour San Francisco's Water System

By Ted Fischer

San Francisco and surrounding communities get water from

The United States Conference of Mayors Water Council met

the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir approximately 160 miles away via

in San Francisco to discuss water issues facing the nation's cit-

the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct. Water once made the journey to

ies on September 26-27. San Francisco city staff took meeting

the Pulgas Water Temple and flowed over a small C-shaped

attendees on a tour of the Pulgas Temple, Crystal Springs Dam

waterfall within the water temple itself where it continued

and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir just south of San Francisco.

approximately 800 feet down a canal to the west into Upper

The San Francisco Public Utility Commission's water system

Crystal Springs Reservoir.

serves over 2.4 million people. The most important factor for

David Briggs, Division Manager of Water Supply and Dee

their water quality is its source. Most of the drinking water comes

Cutino, Superintendent of West Bay Facilities spoke about seis-

from 459 square miles of protected watershed of the Tuolumne

mic safety and water supply issues. Mayors and attendees were

River in Yosemite National Park. Sierra Nevada snowmelt flows

given a full tour of the facility and shown how San Francisco is

down the Tuolumne River into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. City

leading the way in water treatment techniques including the use

staff discussed water supply issues in the San Francisco Bay area

of ozone to clean and treat the water for drinking. For more

and their concerns of global warming and an area drought.

information please visit our website at www.usmayors.org

McKINNEy from page 

educational programs for builders, developers, and landscap-

ers, and will convene these groups for short courses to help

tion- one of the largest water consumption sectors. The City

provide needed understanding on water issues.

Council may eventually pass ordinances that require develop-

Center programs will include an active transfer of educa-

ers to use these water conserving plants.

tional curricula to teach primary grade school teachers and

The Center's Resident Director, Dr. Frank Gilstrap stated that

youngsters how to conserve and manage water. These pro-

"McKinney and Center officials have outlined a six-year plan

grams will also teach McKinney City personnel and county

that includes science-based options for conserving local water,

officials about water quality and quantity concerns, non-point

educational programs to help citizens save water, and water-

sources and point sources, and water contamination and

shed-level approaches for sustaining water quantity and qual-

mechanisms that degrade water. All of these programs and

ity". Gilstrap intends to assure that the Center recommend only

activities will be supported in part with grants and proposals

proven, research-based practices and research-based products

developed by the Program Coordinator and City personnel.

and information to help residents and businesses make the best

The partnership is anticipated to be a "Best Practice" that

use of their potable water supply.

could be used by other cities experiencing drought conditions,

The Center's leadership worked closely with the City to cre-

or just wanting to make better use of their water resources. Dr.

ate a comprehensive plan that outlines goals of the partnership

Mark Hussey, recently appointed Director of the Texas Agri-

program. The Center will use the first 12-18 months to customize

cultural Experiment Station plans to eventually establish simi-

and transfer educational programs about water conservation

lar partnerships with other cities. Dr. Hussey recently remarked

and landscape management, targeting adults and homeown-

that "Our scientist and specialists in Dallas working with scien-

ers through television and radio spots, web sites, and CDs. The

tists and specialists at other locations across Texas are uniquely

programs will provide "how-to" information regarding home

positioned to help municipalities find science-based solutions to

and individual conservation. The Center is also developing

problems in urban natural resources and water."

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