Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Pulgas Water Temple, a celebrated monument to San Francisco’s regional water system, was honored on May 8, 2025, with the prestigious designation for historic water infrastructure in North America, joining the ranks of historic water heritage sites such as the Hoover Dam and the Chicago Water Tower.
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is honoring the temple with the Water Landmarks Award, which recognizes sites over 50 years old that have played a direct and significant role in water supply, treatment, distribution or technological development. Completed in 1938, the temple marks the point where water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada first reached the Peninsula, flowing into Crystal Springs Reservoir. It fulfilled the long-held dream of providing San Francisco with a safe, reliable water supply after decades of scarcity and inadequate sources.
“When Hetch Hetchy water arrived in the Bay Area for the first time, public officials and community members recognized it as a turning point, especially after the 1906 earthquake, when much of San Francisco burned to the ground because there was not enough water to fight the fires,” said Dennis Herrera, General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. “Their vision led to one of the greatest engineering achievements of its time, bringing a dependable supply of clean water to the Bay Area and helping drive the growth of our communities for generations. The Pulgas Water Temple stands as a tribute to that accomplishment, and we are honored that the AWWA has recognized it with a Water Landmarks Award, which celebrates historic water sites across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.”
Read more about the award and event: sfpuc.gov/about-us/news/first-drop-lasting-legacy-pulgas-water-temple-honored-water-landmark
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Pulgas Water Temple, a celebrated monument to San Francisco’s regional water system, was honored on May 8, 2025, with the prestigious designation for historic water infrastructure in North America, joining the ranks of historic water heritage sites such as the Hoover Dam and the Chicago Water Tower.
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is honoring the temple with the Water Landmarks Award, which recognizes sites over 50 years old that have played a direct and significant role in water supply, treatment, distribution or technological development. Completed in 1938, the temple marks the point where water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada first reached the Peninsula, flowing into Crystal Springs Reservoir. It fulfilled the long-held dream of providing San Francisco with a safe, reliable water supply after decades of scarcity and inadequate sources.
“When Hetch Hetchy water arrived in the Bay Area for the first time, public officials and community members recognized it as a turning point, especially after the 1906 earthquake, when much of San Francisco burned to the ground because there was not enough water to fight the fires,” said Dennis Herrera, General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. “Their vision led to one of the greatest engineering achievements of its time, bringing a dependable supply of clean water to the Bay Area and helping drive the growth of our communities for generations. The Pulgas Water Temple stands as a tribute to that accomplishment, and we are honored that the AWWA has recognized it with a Water Landmarks Award, which celebrates historic water sites across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.”
Read more about the award and event: sfpuc.gov/about-us/news/first-drop-lasting-legacy-pulgas-water-temple-honored-water-landmark
