A Digital Newsletter of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
Get To Know: Director of Water Resources Paula Kehoe
Hailing from the Ocean State, Paula Kehoe has spent over 20 years with us,
working on what she knows best—water. As the Director of Water Resources, she
is responsible for diversifying San Francisco’s local water supply portfolio through
the development and implementation of conservation, groundwater, and recycled
water programs. Her innovative work and research is at the core of the “Hetch
Hetchy & Local Water – Better Together,” campaign here in the City. She is also
responsible for spearheading local legislation to allow for the collection,
treatment, and use of alternate water sources for toilet flushing and irrigation in
large new developments within San Francisco.
In describing the biggest challenges facing our water system, Kehoe remarks,
“San Franciscans have been fortunate to have been able to rely solely on our
Regional Water System for nearly 100 years. But our world is changing, and with
that comes a number of challenges that we must address to continue to provide
reliable water to our customers.”
Challenges that affect the long-term resiliency of our water supply include climate
variability and its affect on snowpack and rainfall, regulatory changes, and
population growth. In addition, wildfires, drought, and earthquakes are challenges
that we must continually prepare for, as they can occur anytime and affect the
reliability of our supply. The next major earthquake could be tomorrow. The next
drought could be right around the corner. The work of Paula and her team ensures
that we plan and implement projects now, so that San Francisco is prepared to
meet these challenges before they arise.
As a dedicated public servant, Paula has built her career around creating
sustainable solutions for San Francisco—making the City a better place to live for
families and communities. What is the most important issue for San Francisco
ratepayers to know? She states, “It takes years to evaluate, fund and develop
new water supply projects. Our goal is to responsibly plan and implement
projects to be ready in advance of the need so that we can maintain a reliable
supply for our customers.”
In This Issue
Drinking Water
Powering Buses. Huh? High Impact Learning for
San Francisco High School Students Happy Anniversary
Adopt a Drain! Your Top Five 2018
Resolutions
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