Millions of gallons of fresh, drinkable water are being sucked up by city departments each year to water lawns, fight fires, fill toilets and wash asphalt.
Despite agencies across the state moving to use reclaimed or recycled water for such tasks, San Francisco continues to use pristine Hetch Hetchy water.
The Public Utilities Commission, which sells water to city departments under state law, is currently working on a recycled-water plan for western San Francisco.
Once completed — likely by the end of 2013 — the system would produce 2 million gallons of recycled water to irrigate Golden Gate Park, Harding and Lincoln golf courses, and the San Francisco Zoo, along with commercial customers.
More than $1 million is spent annually on water for neighborhood parks and about $375,000 alone goes to Golden Gate Park, but other departments are also water hogs.
The Fire Department’s water bill was $471,252 in 2008, and the Department of Public Works spent $424,000. San Francisco General Hospital is another heavy user, spending about $423,000.
Hey, big spender
General Hospital: $423,299 (2007-08); $425,879 (2009, through April)
Laguna Honda Hospital: $149,299 (2007-08); $129,087 (2009, through April)
Golden Gate Park: $375,493 (2007-08); $268,082 (2009, through April)
Libraries: $46,677 (2007-08); $48,800 (2009, through April)
Neighborhood parks: $1.08 million (2007-08); $871,380 (2009, through April)
Zoo: $171,954 (2007-08); $168,288 (2009, through April)
Candlestick Park: $129,443 (2007-08); $109,666 (2009, through April)
Yacht Harbor: $16,209 (2007-08); $18,393 (2009, through April)
Golf courses: $165,317 (2007-08); $112,815 (2009, through April)
Mini parks: $16,433 (2007-08); $14,001 (2009, through April)
Academy of Sciences: $30,558 (2007-08); $73,363 (2009, through April)
War Memorial Opera House: $34,836 (2007-08); $28,052 (2009, through April)
Davies Symphony Hall: $14,528 (2007-08); $16,050 (2009, through April)
Landscape maintenance: $50,343 (2007-08); $43,720 (2009, through April)
Department of Public Works: $424,137 (2007-08); $409,176 (2009, through April)
Street cleaning (DPW): $15,815 (2007-08); $16,428 (2009, through April)
Fire Department: $471,252 (2007-08); $405,203 (2009, through April)
Police Department: $25,559 (2007-08); $19,600 (2009, through April)
Human Services: $78,619 (2007-08); $78,029 (2009, through April)
Animal Care and Control: $4,184 (2007-08); $8,385 (2009, through April)
Total municipal water bill: $4.2 million (2007-08); $4.5 million (expected in 2009)
