San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Embracing a One Water Approach

Increasing water demand and greater variability of water supplies resulting from climate change, population growth, and other stressors led the SFPUC to diversify its water supply portfolio and adopt a OneWaterSF approach. The concept of OneWaterSF began when California was in the midst of one of the hottest and driest periods in the state’s history. In addressing the challenges that the drought posed, it became apparent that taking a holistic approach, collaborating across the organization, and embracing new technologies was more crucial than ever. The goal is to implement an integrated approach to resource management that recognized the importance of actively working across the utility to identify synergies across water, wastewater, and energy boundaries and put the right resource to the right use.

SFPUC’s programs were also driven by the utility’s understanding of the importance of local water supply reliability that includes the development of local water supplies, including conservation, groundwater, recycled water, and onsite water reuse.