WATER USE RESTRICTIONS
In response to the ongoing drought , the SFPUC continued to educate the public about wasteful water use activities restricted by the State and in June 2016 made all of these restrictions permanent . Water conservation staff investigated 835 reports of water waste submitted through San Francisco ’ s 311 online and telephone response center , as well as through the State ’ s water waste portal ; and in response issued over 500 warning letters and conducted numerous site inspections . For more information about the water waste program visit sfwater . org / waterwaste .
DROUGHT EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
The SFPUC continued its multilingual “ Water Conservation is Smart and Sexy ” citywide public education campaign to capture public attention and present water conservation tips and information about the drought . Throughout the summer months of 2015 , the campaign added new artwork and messages communicated through a combination of television , newspaper , billboard , bus , transit station , and social media advertisements . The SFPUC also provided free outreach materials , such as lawn signs , fact sheets , checklists , stickers , and restaurant tent cards .
2016 DROUGHT EDUCATION SURVEY
Water runoff from an irrigation system is one of the most common water waste reports submitted to the SFPUC .
Toward the end of FY 2015-16 , the SFPUC surveyed 704 residents to assess what San Francisco residents did at home to achieve water savings during the drought , how long these habits might last , and how people got information about the drought . Over 97 % of survey respondents indicated they are aware the State is in a drought and of those respondents , 84 % believe the rain and snow from this past fall and winter did not end the State ’ s drought . In addition , 79 % recalled seeing specific advertising regarding the drought or water conservation and more than half recalled hearing about the SFPUC ’ s free services and rebates to save water . In summary , most respondents reported they reduced water use over the past two years . The following graph shows the top indoor water conservation actions as mentioned by survey respondents .
Top Indoor Water-Saving Actions Taken Over the Past Two Years
Shorter or less frequent showering or baths Cut back on running faucets Less frequent toilet flushing
Reused water from bathing / showering for plants or other non-drinking uses Checked for and fixed leaky toilets
Reduced dishwasher use Checked for and fixed leaky shower heads , faucets , or other fixtures / pipes
Reduced clothes washer use Replaced clothes washer with a new water-efficient model
Replaced toilet with a new water-efficient model Replaced showerheads or faucet with low-flow models
Reduced or stopped garbage disposal use
32.9 % 29.3 %
22.7 % 20.5 % 19.9 % 19.6 %
17.8 % 12.9 % 12.0 % 10.3 % 10.1 %
42.9 %
Over two-thirds of survey respondents indicated they reduced their water use . These are the top actions where at least 10 % of respondents who said they saved water reported taking .
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