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<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 Hetch Hetchy water system or the City's <br />operation of the Enterprise. San Francisco's capital improvement program for the Hetch Hetchy <br />water system (see "THE ENTERPRISE - Water Supply - San Francisco Capital Improvement Plan <br />and Long-Range Financial Plan" above) is intended, in part, to make seismic upgrades to the <br />Hetch Hetchy system. However, a major seismic event prior to the time such improvements are <br />completed could result in water deliveries from the Hetch Hetchy system to the Enterprise being <br />interrupted for a significant period of time. As a result, no assurance can be given that a future <br />seismic event will not materially adversely affect the operation of 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 it <br />is likely that, over time, both will impose more stringent standards with attendant higher costs. <br /> <br />Limited Obligations <br /> <br />The Bonds are limited obligations of the City and are not secured by a legal or equitable <br />pledge or charge or lien upon any property of the City or any of its income or receipts, except the <br />Net Revenues of the Enterprise. The obligation of the City to make the Installment Payments does <br />not constitute an obligation of the City to levy or pledge any form of taxation or for which the City <br />has levied or pledged any form of taxation. <br /> <br />The City is obligated under the Installment Purchase Contract to pay the Installment <br />Payments solely from Net Revenues. There is no assurance that the City can succeed in <br />operating the Enterprise such that the Net Revenues in the future amounts projected in this <br />Official Statement will be realized. <br /> <br />Limitations on Remedies and Limited Recourse on Default <br /> <br />The ability of the City to comply with its covenants under the Installment Purchase <br />Contract and to generate Net Revenues sufficient to pay principal of and interest with respect to <br />the Bonds may be adversely affected by actions and events outside of the control of the City <br />and may be adversely affected by actions taken (or not taken) by voters, property owners, <br />taxpayers or persons obligated to pay assessments, fees and charges. See "CONSTITUTIONAL <br />AND STATUTORY LIMITATIONS ON TAXES AND APPROPRIATIONS - Proposition 218" below. <br />Failure by the City to pay the Installment Payments required to be made under the Installment <br />Purchase Contract constitutes an event of default under the Installment Purchase Contract and <br />the Trustee is permitted to pursue remedies at law or in equity to enforce the City's obligation to <br />make such Installment Payments. Although the Trustee has the right to accelerate the total <br />unpaid principal amount of the Installment Payments, there is no assurance that the City would <br />have sufficient funds to pay the accelerated Installment Payments. <br /> <br />36 <br />