The San Francisco call., 1913-07-22
Can Francisco'S Water Problem

~ The lnisfortunes of the people OF thf I'o1refo
district most unhappily emphasize the hard
ships of San Franciscos intolerable water STU
alton.
They should serve to remove all honest oppo-
stion to San Franciscos fight for the right 10 oe-
Neop the Hetch Hetchy water system sss :
The business men of any district are slow. to
make complaint likely to retard the Developments
of their district Last week the business men
association of the Potrero forced formally 10
complain about the quality OF the water furmsned
by the Spring Valley company.
The association was compelled to admit that the
water was unfit to drink and to ask for the con-
demnation of the reservoir at Twenty second and
Wisconsin streets.
Sunday night fire which destroyed nine
homes demonstrated that there was not even bad
water enough to afford the district the fire pro-
lection every San Francisco neighborhood is entl-
tied to- s-ze.a.ss !.
Nine homes were wiped out because the hrenen
could not get the water stop the spreadSot the
flames 81
What is true in the Potrero is true i'll virtually
every outlying district in San Francisco They
have neither proper fire protection nor sufhclent
water for domestic purposes.
This is not because of water waste in other
parts of the city. Thanks to the confession and
pleas of the Spring Valley Water company the mu-
ncipa government and the people generally have
done everything possible to minimize the dangers
Of the water famine.
That the business and more centrally located
residence districts not subjected to extra hre
loss risk is due to the fact that San Franciscos
splendid auxiliary high pressure system is not de-
pendent upon the Spring Valley supply. The ef-
fciency of that system may be maintained by the
salt water pumping stations
The Spring Valley company is delivering 49,
100000 gallons day to the city of San Francisco.
That is the limit of its developed supply. From
private wells the people of San Francisco are Sc
curing approximately 100000 gallons day in
addition to the Spring Valley supply That is a
combined total of less than 100000 gallons a
day for city of more than 100000 population
The city of Seattle with directory population
Of $4,000, has a supply in excess of 7O,OOOOoo
gallons and is using than 100000 gallons
a day.
Seattle's consumption of water is not out of pro-
portion to the amounts used by other American
cities, always excepting San francisco.
San Francisco is compelled to get along with
less than half the water necessary for the health
and protection of its citizens because is the only
big city in America dependent upon private cor
poration-
None pretends that the immediate relief upon
which the development of San Francisco is con-
tngent can be secured from the Hetch Hetchy but
to DENY San Francisco the right to develop the
Hetch Hetchy is to deny her the right of destiny
Adjustment of San Francsco's difficulties with
the Spring Valley company is contingent upon the
prompt insurance of San Franciscos rights in the
Hetch Hetchy.
Such adjustment might result in development
of the Spring Valley properties which would enable
the city to get along with additional but insult
fcient water pending the completion of the Hetch
Hetchy project.
But the Spring Valley properties can not be de-
veloped sufficiently to meet the normal needs of
San Francisco ten years hence. 1t has not been
proved that they can be developed sufficiently to
meet the needs OF San Francisco two years hence.
Certainly they have not been developed suf-
fciently to meet the present needs-to avert the
water famine freely confessed by the Spring Valley
company. see..-- - -
No true friend of San Franesooseans afford to
quarrel now with the terms Of the Hetch Hetchy
bill The most perfunctory investigation will con-
vince any honest man that San Franciscos water
problem has developed crisis portentous of dire
harm
He is San Francisco's friend who lends his every
energy to the immediate consideration and passage
of the Raker bill He is San Franciscos enemy
who does less