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Page 3 of 20 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 1. Water System – Potable (Drinking) Water The City’s water distribution system provides drinking water to about 92,000 residents and businesses in Redwood City and portions of the Town of Woodside, City of San Carlos, and unincorporated San Mateo County through roughly 24,500 service connections. The City purchases all its drinking water (also called potable water) from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) through 13 metered connections from the San Francisco Regional Water System. The City has an agreement with the SFPUC for a perpetual supply of drinking water in the amount of 10.93 million gallons per day (MGD), or 12,243 acre-feet per year – about enough water to fill 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The water system is comprised of 260 miles of water distribution and transmission pipelines, ten pump stations, 60 dedicated water sampling stations, and 13 water storage tanks with a total capacity of 22 million gallons. The water system is regulated by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water and subject to regulations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The City’s long-range planning for the potable water system is guided by two foundational documents: the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and the Water System Master Plan (WSMP). a. Urban Water Management Plan The UWMP addresses the City’s historical and projected water demands, water supplies, supply reliability, contingency plans for water shortages, and demand management programs. The 2020 UWMP, adopted by the City Council in June 2021, forecasts water supply and demand growth, along with population and employment growth over a 25-year period, which extends through 2045. The UWMP also references and incorporates information from other planning documents, such as the 2010 Redwood City General Plan. It is updated every five years. Based on historical and projected demands and growth, the UWMP shows that the City has sufficient water supplies during non-drought years. Note that the City’s supply relies on the SFPUC Regional Water System. The SFPUC has committed to meeting the retail and wholesale customers’ average annual water demand during non–drought years. Additionally, they committed to meeting dry-year delivery needs, while limiting rationing. Although these assurances provide sufficient water under regular conditions, water supply may be limited during extended droughts. Several constraints have been identified that could affect the future supply availability of the SFPUC Regional Water System. One significant factor is the 2018 Bay-Delta Plan Amendment (Plan), which was adopted by the SWRCB. The Bay-Delta, a crucial waterway in California, serves as the primary source of water for much of the state. The Plan aims to protect the ecosystem by ensuring adequate water flows to maintain cold water habitats, which are essential for species such as salmon and steelhead trout – both of which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and inhabit Redwood Creek. As a result, drinking water supplies from the Delta may be limited to help preserve cold water habitat. If the Plan is fully implemented, the SFPUC anticipates that it can still meet water demand during average or wet years but could face shortages during dry years when water availability is limited. To address this shortage, the UWMP outlines several strategies, including conservation measures, collaboration with the 9.A. - Page 3 of 20 488