how long before they this will be gone

San Francisco turns to wells to supply drinking water	<<>
Monday, April 12, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO — According to a plan proposed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), five wells in the western part of San Francisco could provide 10 percent of the city’s water supply, augmenting the current Hetch Hetchy snowmelt system, The San Francisco Examiner reported. The plan calls for three wells to be built and connected by underground pipes to one of the city’s reservoirs, according to the story. After being treated with chlorine and ammonia, the 4 million gallons of water per day would supply drinking water for half of San Francisco’s residents, the article stated. Two other wells, which currently irrigate Golden State Park, would also be used to provide drinking water, according to the report. “Groundwater used to be part of the prodigal supply, but it occurred to someone it wouldn’t be enough to sustain us, so we were provided with water rights to the Hetch Hetchy system,” SFPUC spokeswoman Suzanne Gautier said. “But San Francisco does not have any locally produced drinking water. It helps to provide a local supply, especially in the event of an emergency.” To read the entire article, click here.