Water Resources Division Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2017-18 WaterResourcesAR-FY17_18 | Page 19

Forward Thinking - Water Supply Planning
The Regional Water System has served the San Francisco Bay Area for 100 years and will continue to be the
cornerstone of our water supply. But due to climate variability, earthquakes, regulatory changes and population
growth, our ability to deliver water reliably is at risk if we don’t proactively plan for our community’s water
future. The SFPUC continues to work with other Bay Area water agencies to explore regional water supply
opportunities such as transfers and purified water projects that can be developed jointly.
It takes years, if not decades, to evaluate, fund and develop new water supply projects. The SFPUC has a
responsibility to plan and implement projects now to be ready in advance of the need so we can reliably
maintain a high-quality water supply. Diversifying our water sources is one of the most important steps we
are taking to prepare for the risks we face and ensure a sustainable water supply for generations to come.
PURIFIED WATER PROGRAM
The SFPUC is partnering with various experts
to explore the feasibility of treating wastewater
with ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and
ultraviolet light to provide purified water
that can meet drinking water standards. With
scientific and regulatory advances in this field,
and through highly advanced treatment and
monitoring, recycled water is already being
treated to drinking water standards in some
parts of the country. As we look to the future,
the SFPUC is keen to understand what role
purified water can play in our water supply
portfolio to better adapt to future water
supply needs. In partnership with the Water
Research Foundation and the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, the SFPUC has begun a research project in our headquarters. We are treating approximately
two-thirds of the effluent currently produced by our constructed wetland treatment system (also known as
the Living Machine TM ) and bringing it to drinking water standards. In July 2018, we began collecting data for
analysis. All the water we produce is recombined for toilet flushing in the building once it is tested.
Source
Water
1. Ultrafiltration
2. Reverse Osmosis
3. UV Light and
Advanced Oxidation
Living Machine TM
Grab sampling
Real time monitoring
The water produced by this purification process is tested for
quality and then returned to the non-potable water system.
Regionally, we are working with Silicon Valley Clean Water, Contra Costa Water District, the Alameda County
Water District and the Santa Clara Valley Water District in separate efforts to determine the feasibility of
producing up to 15 mgd of purified water to meet the future needs of our customers. The preliminary
feasibility studies for these projects are under way or beginning.
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