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The City and County of San Francisco and the Giants Team Up to Reduce Water Use this Summer

Two SF Giants fans at a baseball game and SF water bottle in foreground.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 26, 2022

The City & County of San Francisco and the Giants Team Up to Reduce Water Use this Summer

The “Game Up to Save Up” drought awareness campaign will run July to October and encourage Bay Area residents to use less water.

SAN FRANCISCO – The City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Giants are teaming up this baseball- and drought- season to spread awareness of the importance of using less water outdoors this summer. Water use historically increases during hot summer months when water agencies are struggling to stretch their water supplies.  Starting July 29 through the end of the season, the new, multilingual campaign encourages fans to do their part in reducing water consumption.

"Every year, San Franciscans pitch in to conserve our most precious resource, which is why San Francisco's water usage remains the lowest throughout California," Mayor London N. Breed said. " We know climate conditions are worsening and during summer months especially, our water supplies are strained. Any contribution made is a critical step in reducing water consumption. I want to thank the San Francisco Giants for stepping up to help the City urge everyone to be mindful of their water usage."

The “Game Up to Save Up” drought awareness campaign, developed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in collaboration with the Giants, includes:

  • A unique water conservation video public service announcement in which Giants mascot Lou Seal encourages residents to take small actions that can make a big difference in water use: check for leaks, water outdoors no more than twice a week, and replace landscaping with drought-tolerant plants;
  • In-ballpark messaging on the scoreboard and concourse LED displays;
  • Interactive pop-up activations in the ballpark plazas with water conservation experts; and
  • Bilingual radio, television, social, and other digital campaigns.

“No one knows how long this drought will last. It’s time for all of us to be water-saving Giants,” SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera said. “In November, San Francisco declared a water shortage emergency, calling for a voluntary reduction across our entire service area, not just in the City, but also Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties. I’m proud of the progress we have made together, but we can do even more, particularly when it comes to reducing outdoor water use this summer.”

San Francisco continues to lead the state on water conservation. San Franciscans consume an average of 42 gallons of water per day, one of the lowest rates in California and half the state average. Additionally, SFPUC offers many resources to encourage efficient water use for customers. These include free onsite irrigation checkups and landscape evaluations, grants, and leak alerts. The agency also provides extensive indoor water-saving assistance, including free replacement of old toilets, rebates for efficient clothes washers and other equipment, and home and business conservation consultations.

“Since we opened the ballpark in 2000, we have been committed to making it the most sustainable and greenest ballpark in the country. We continue each year to refine and reevaluate our sustainability and efficiency practices to remain an environmental leader,” Jorge Costa, Senior Vice President of Operations and Facilities for the San Francisco Giants said.

The Giants have implemented numerous water conservation efforts to maintain one of the best playing fields in baseball. Oracle Park is the only ballpark in the country to have earned U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) platinum (2019), gold (2015) and silver (2010) certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance (EBOM). Water conservation efforts include:

  • Soil sensors that monitor zones of the field to ensure that water is only being used when necessary;
  • Improved infield mix with a higher clay concentration, reducing the need for watering the field by over 33 percent;
  • The installation of a dilution system that conserves 30 percent of water usage;
  • The installation of water efficient fixtures in the sinks and toilets; and
  • Reduced ballpark power washing.

These efforts, and more, serve as a model of sustainability for MLB teams nationwide as climate change calls for more drastic and urgent measures in every field and industry. Through the “Game Up to Save Up” partnership, the Giants are using their brand and extensive reach to encourage others to do their part.

“I’m proud to represent a District where industry leaders are showcasing to the world what’s possible,” District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey said. “Right here in SoMa, the Giants take seriously what it means to be a good neighbor and partner. This season, we get to appreciate the Giants for winning in more ways than one at the ballpark.”

For more information on the “Game Up to Save Up” campaign, please visit sfpuc.org/SaveUp. Members of the media wishing to interview representatives of the San Francisco Giants or SFPUC, please email communications@sfwater.org.

About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission 
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets over 70 percent of the electricity demand in San Francisco. Our mission is to provide our customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. Learn more at sfpuc.org.

About the San Francisco Giants 
One of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball, the 139-year old franchise moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958. After playing a total of 42 years in Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park, the team moved to the privately constructed, downtown ballpark on the corner of 3rd and King in 2000. The organization is widely recognized for its innovative business practices and baseball excellence having been named in the past decade the Sports Organization of the Year by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, Organization of the Year by Baseball America and ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year.  Oracle Park is also the only ballpark in the country to have earned Silver, Gold and Platinum LEED certification for an existing building.

Since opening its gates, Oracle Park has become internationally-renowned as a premier venue in the world of both sports and entertainment. On the diamond, more than 65 million spectators have witnessed countless magical moments, including three World Series Championships (2010, 2012 & 2014), the raising of four National League Pennants and eight playoff appearances. The ballpark has also hosted some of music’s biggest acts, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Jay Z, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Green Day and Billy Joel.