By Art Jensen — Special To The Bee
Published September 7, 2004

The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), created in 2003 by 28 cities, water districts and water companies, and the 1.7 million water users it represents are very interested in the discussions taking place about the proposal to drain Hetch Hetchy reservoir.

The agency represents those districts that depend on Hetch Hetchy that are outside the city limits of San Francisco. These are water districts in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties.

We believe there should be broad public debate about this matter, and we want to be part of it. The health, safety and economic well-being of our agencies’ customers are the underlying reasons for the state legislation that enabled BAWSCA’s formation, and currently the Hetch Hetchy water supply is directly related to meeting those objectives.

Below is our position on the issue:

• Draining the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to provide increased recreational opportunities in Yosemite National Park, one of America’s great natural resources, is an idea that should be discussed by all interested parties.
• A central issue for 2.4 million residents, businesses and community organizations, including schools, in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties is their health, safety and economic well-being. They depend on the Hetch Hetchy system for all or most of their water.
• Before proposals to drain the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir can be considered seriously, the affected parties and their government representatives, who are empowered to make such decisions, would have to be assured of the availability of an alternate, reliable supply of equally high-quality water at a similar fair price.
• Consideration of this idea should be an open process involving all stakeholders. Since final action will be in the hands of local, state and federal officials, they should be part of this process.
• Meanwhile, San Francisco’s capital improvement program to rebuild the regional water system should proceed with all possible speed. The antiquated, earthquake-vulnerable water system must be fixed so that water can be delivered to customers and protect communities, regardless of the source of water. This is literally a matter of public health and safety.

About the Writer

Art Jensen is general manager of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency. Reach him at bawsca@bawsca.org. Web site: www.bawsca.org.