Be Prepared!

In the event of an earthquake, will you have enough drinking water?

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) operates the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, which provides high-quality drinking water to 2.6 million residents and businesses across four Bay Area counties. The SFPUC is making the investment to seismically upgrade regional water facilities, tunnels, and pipelines. However, it is important for you to know that smaller pipelines leading to your home might be damaged in an earthquake. As a result, water from your tap may be unavailable for up to 72 hours or longer.

To prepare for an emergency:

Keep a 3-day water supply just in case

·         Each family member needs 1 gallon per day

·         Store tap water in food-grade plastic containers; replace every 6 months

·         Store bottled water in the original sealed containers; replace according to expiration date.

If your supply runs out, you can treat your tap water

·         Boil it for 3 minutes, or disinfect it by adding regular household bleach

·         Add 8 drops of bleach per gallon of water

·         Shake or stir then let it stand for 30 minutes

For more tips, view our emergency preparedness website at www.sfwater.org/beprepared.