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-43- <br />Seismic Considerations <br /> <br />The City, like much of California, is subject to seismic activity that could result in <br />interference with the delivery of water from the Regional Water System or the City’s operation <br />of the Enterprise. San Francisco’s Water System Improvement Plan for the SFPUC (see “THE <br />ENTERPRISE – Water Supply – SFPUC Water System Improvement Plan”) is intended, in part, <br />to make seismic upgrades to the Regional Water System. However, a major seismic event could <br />result in water deliveries from the Regional Water System to the Enterprise being interrupted <br />for a significant period of time. As a result, no assurance can be given that a future seismic event <br />will not materially adversely affect the operation of the Enterprise. Additional details about <br />how water is allocated during an emergency can be found in the Water Supply Agreement. The <br />City does not, and does not expect to, maintain earthquake insurance on the Enterprise. <br /> <br />Environmental Regulation <br /> <br />The kind and degree of water treatment effected through the Enterprise is regulated, to a <br />large extent, by the federal government and the State of California. Treatment standards set <br />forth in federal and state law control the operations of the Enterprise and mandate the use of <br />water treatment technology. In the event that the federal government, acting through the <br />Environmental Protection Agency, or the State of California, acting through the Department of <br />Health Services, or additional federal or state agencies, should impose stricter water quality <br />standards upon the Enterprise, the City’s expenses could increase accordingly and rates and <br />charges would have to be increased to offset those expenses. It is not possible to predict the <br />direction federal or state regulation will take with respect to water quality standards, although <br />it is likely that, over time, both will impose more stringent standards with attendant higher <br />costs. <br /> <br />Maintenance and Operation Costs <br /> <br />There can be no assurance that the City’s expenses for the Enterprise will be consistent <br />with the descriptions in this Official Statement. Changes in technology, changes in quality <br />standards, loss of large customers, increased or decreased development, increases in the cost of <br />operation, or other expenses could require increases in rates or charges in order to comply with <br />the City’s rate covenant in the 2017 Installment Purchase Contract. <br /> <br />Limited Recourse on Default <br /> <br />Failure by the City to make 2017 Installment Payments constitutes an event of default <br />under the 2017 Installment Purchase Contract and the Trustee is permitted to pursue remedies <br />at law or in equity to enforce the City’s obligation to make such payments. Although the <br />Trustee has the right to accelerate the total unpaid principal amount of the 2017 Installment <br />Payments, there is no assurance that the City would have sufficient funds to pay the accelerated <br />amounts. <br /> <br />Limitations on Remedies <br /> <br />The ability of the City to comply with its covenants under the 2017 Installment Purchase <br />Contract and to generate Net Revenues sufficient to pay the 2017 Installment Payments and, <br />therefore, of principal of and interest on the Bonds, may be adversely affected by actions and <br />events outside of the control of the City and may be adversely affected by actions taken (or not <br />taken) by voters, property owners, taxpayers or persons obligated to pay assessments, fees and <br />charges. Furthermore, the remedies available to the owners of the Bonds upon the occurrence of <br />an event of default under the 2017 Installment Purchase Contract are in many respects <br />8.C. - Page 68