Back to top of page

Skip to main content

Active Alerts

If you are experiencing a water, power, or sewer emergency or service problem call our 24-hour hotline at 3-1-1 or (415) 701-2311 from outside SF or log on at sf311.org. Learn more or review active service alerts.
Skip to main content
San Francisco Water Power Sewer. Services of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Translation Disclaimer
  • Accounts & Services
    • Accounts & Services Overview
    • Service Alerts
    • Bill Relief
    • Account Services
    • Water Power & Sewer Rates
    • Sign Up For Savings
    • Water Quality
    • About Your Bill
    • Service Installations
  • Programs
    • Programs Overview
    • San Francisco's Urban Watersheds
    • Water Supply
    • Clean Energy
    • Water Innovations
    • Ocean and Beach Monitoring
    • Grants
    • Art
    • Biosolids
    • Pretreatment
  • Learning
    • Learning Overview
    • Conserve Water
    • How You Can Help
    • Events
    • Come Visit
    • For Educators
    • Games Puzzles Virtual Backgrounds
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Gardens and Landscapes
    • Water Pollution Prevention
  • Construction & Contracts
    • Construction & Contracts Overview
    • Contract Opportunities and Payments
    • Contractor Assistance
    • New Developments Utility Infrastructure
    • Lands and Rights of Way
    • Construction Projects
    • Construction Management
    • Sewer Upgrades in San Francisco
    • Sewer System Improvement Program
    • Water Infrastructure Improvements
  • About Us
    • About Us Overview
    • Who We Are
    • Our Systems
    • Boards, Commissions and Committees
    • Careers at the SFPUC
    • Public Notices and Public Meeting Notices
    • Reports
    • News
    • Policies and Plans
    • Contact Us
    • My Account
      • Account Services
      • Water Services
      • Power Services
  • Report a Problem
  • Careers
    • Translate
      • Español
      • 中文
      • Filipino
      • Tiếng Việt
      • عربي
      • Pусский
      • English
  • Alerts
San Francisco Public Utilities Company Logo

Top Menu

  • My Account
    • Water Services
    • Power Services
  • Careers
  • 中文
  • Español
  • Tagalog
  • Translate
    • Español
    • 中文
    • Tagalog
    • Tiếng Việt
    • عربي
    • Pусский
    • Samoa
    • English

Main navigation

  • Accounts & Services
    Accounts & Services

    Providing outstanding customer service to you

    Overview
    • Accounts & Services Overview
    • Service Alerts
    • Bill Relief keyboard_arrow_right
    • Account Services keyboard_arrow_right
    • Water Power & Sewer Rates keyboard_arrow_right
    • Sign Up For Savings keyboard_arrow_right
    • Water Quality keyboard_arrow_right
    • About Your Bill keyboard_arrow_right
    • Service Installations keyboard_arrow_right
    • Accounts & Services Overview Overview
    • Service Alerts Overview
    • Bill Relief Overview
    • Customer Assistance Program - Water/Wastewater
    • Customer Assistance Program - Hetch Hetchy Power
    • CleanPowerSF - PG&E Bill Relief
    • Hetch Hetchy Power Medical Necessity Assistance Program
    • Extenuating Circumstances for Water Shut-Offs/Liens Prevention Program
    • Leak Allowance
    • Resources for Customers with Debt
    • Account Services Overview
    • Start or Stop Service
    • Payment Method Options
    • Power Account Services
    • Payment Plan
    • Water Service Shutoffs and Liens
    • Water Power & Sewer Rates Overview
    • Rates Schedules and Fees
    • Save Money on Your Bill
    • Stormwater Component and Credits
    • Rules and Regulations Governing Water and Electric Services
    • Power Rates 2025
    • Water & Sewer Rates for FYE 2024-26
    • Sign Up For Savings Overview
    • Irrigation Controller Rebate
    • Stormwater Credit
    • Hot Water Recirculation Pump Rebate
    • Residential Washer Rebate
    • Commercial Washer Rebate
    • Commercial Equipment Rebate
    • GoSolarSF
    • Graywater
    • Rainwater Harvesting
    • Sewer Laterals & Insurance
    • Ultra-High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program
    • Water Quality Overview
    • Dirty or Discolored Water
    • Flushing Guidance
    • Annual Water Quality Reports
    • Lead in Drinking Water
    • Cross-Connection Control Guidelines
    • Understanding Your Tap Water
    • About Your Bill Overview
    • About Your Water Meter
    • Reading Your Bill
    • Water and Sewer Bill Calculator
    • Service Installations Overview
    • Water Service Installation
    • Power Service Installation
    • Hydrant Meters
    • Capacity Charges
    • Composting Toilets
  • Programs
    Programs

    Seismic reliability. Delivery reliability. Water quality reliability.

    Overview
    • Programs Overview
    • San Francisco's Urban Watersheds keyboard_arrow_right
    • Water Supply keyboard_arrow_right
    • Clean Energy keyboard_arrow_right
    • Water Innovations keyboard_arrow_right
    • Ocean and Beach Monitoring
    • Grants keyboard_arrow_right
    • Art
    • Biosolids
    • Pretreatment keyboard_arrow_right
    • Programs Overview Overview
    • San Francisco's Urban Watersheds Overview
    • Discover Your Watershed
    • What Is Green Infrastructure
    • Stormwater Schoolyards
    • Water Supply Overview
    • Conservation
    • Groundwater
    • Purified Water
    • Recycled Water
    • Onsite Water Reuse
    • Clean Energy Overview
    • Hetch Hetchy Power
    • CleanPowerSF
    • Electrify My Ride
    • Upgrade to 100% Renewable Electricity
    • EV Charge SF
    • Expanding Public Power
    • Water Innovations Overview
    • PureWaterSF
    • Ocean and Beach Monitoring Overview
    • Grants Overview
    • Green Infrastructure Grant
    • Green Infrastructure Grants for Homes
    • Floodwater Management Grant Program
    • Large Landscape Grant
    • Community Garden Irrigation Meter Grant
    • Urban Watershed Stewardship Grant
    • Onsite Water Reuse Grant
    • Art Overview
    • Biosolids Overview
    • Pretreatment Overview
    • Wastewater Discharge Permits
    • Construction Site Runoff
    • Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Control
    • Dental Mercury
  • Learning
    Learning

    Get Involved in your Community.

    Overview
    • Learning Overview
    • Conserve Water keyboard_arrow_right
    • How You Can Help keyboard_arrow_right
    • Events
    • Come Visit keyboard_arrow_right
    • For Educators keyboard_arrow_right
    • Games Puzzles Virtual Backgrounds keyboard_arrow_right
    • Emergency Preparedness keyboard_arrow_right
    • Gardens and Landscapes keyboard_arrow_right
    • Water Pollution Prevention keyboard_arrow_right
    • Learning Overview Overview
    • Conserve Water Overview
    • Drought Recovery
    • Save Up, Bay Area
    • Free Water-Wise Evaluations and Devices
    • Sign Up for Savings
    • Leak Alerts: Find and Fix Leaks
    • Graywater Laundry to Landscape Rebate
    • Water-Saving Tips, Requirements and Publications
    • How You Can Help Overview
    • Free DrinkTap Drinking Water Map
    • Adopt a Drain SF
    • Rain Guardians
    • Rain Barrel and Cistern Rebate
    • Prevent Water Waste
    • Gifts and Donations
    • Events Overview
    • Come Visit Overview
    • Hetch Hetchy
    • Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail
    • Pulgas Water Temple
    • Sunol Water Temple
    • Lake Merced
    • Wastewater Treatment Plant Tours
    • 525 Golden Gate Avenue
    • Alameda Creek Watershed Center
    • Southeast Community Center
    • Hummingbird Farm
    • College Hill Learning Garden
    • For Educators Overview
    • Watershed Stewardship Curriculum
    • Free Classroom Presentations
    • Big Ideas: Project-Based Curriculum
    • Tales from the Tap
    • The Story of Poo
    • Water from the Wilderness
    • School Field Trips
    • Games Puzzles Virtual Backgrounds Overview
    • Games
    • Puzzles
    • Virtual Backgrounds
    • Emergency Preparedness Overview
    • Resources to Get You Rain Ready
    • Storing and Treating Water
    • Flood Maps
    • Home Water Shutoff Valve
    • Power Outages
    • Sewer Laterals
    • Gardens and Landscapes Overview
    • Save Water in Your Garden
    • Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance
    • Garden Workshops
    • Water Pollution Prevention Overview
    • Stormwater Pollution Prevention
    • Used Cooking Oil Disposal
    • What Not to Flush
    • Pollution Prevention Calendar
    • PFAS and Wastewater
  • Construction & Contracts
    Construction & Contracts

    Rebuilding Our Infrastructure is Priority One

    Overview
    • Construction & Contracts Overview
    • Contract Opportunities and Payments keyboard_arrow_right
    • Contractor Assistance keyboard_arrow_right
    • New Developments Utility Infrastructure keyboard_arrow_right
    • Lands and Rights of Way keyboard_arrow_right
    • Construction Projects keyboard_arrow_right
    • Construction Management
    • Sewer Upgrades in San Francisco
    • Sewer System Improvement Program
    • Water Infrastructure Improvements
    • Construction & Contracts Overview Overview
    • Contract Opportunities and Payments Overview
    • Contracting Opportunities
    • Prequalify for Construction
    • SFBid
    • SOLIS
    • Job Order Contracts
    • Social Impact Partnership Program
    • Contractor Assistance Overview
    • Contractors Assistance Center
    • Project Labor Agreement
    • Collective Bargaining Agreements
    • Local Business Enterprise Program
    • New Developments Utility Infrastructure Overview
    • Asset Protection Standards
    • Commercial Water Conservation
    • Cross-Connection Control
    • Fire Hydrants
    • Fire Service Connections
    • Hetch Hetchy Power
    • Onsite Water Reuse
    • Recycled Water Use
    • Residential Water Conservation
    • Residential Water Submetering
    • Sewer Lateral Installation Standards
    • Sewer/Wastewater Pretreatment
    • Stormwater Management
    • Street and Pedestrian Lighting
    • Water Main Installation
    • Water Well Use
    • Water Efficient Landscape
    • Wastewater Typical Details
    • Lands and Rights of Way Overview
    • Project Review and Land Use - Bay Area
    • Project Review and Land Use - Hetch Hetchy Water and Power
    • Project Review and Land Use - San Francisco
    • Land Engineering Evaluation
    • Real Estate Services
    • Utility Easements: Sewer Mains on Private Property
    • Historical Discoveries
    • Utility Information Request
    • Construction Projects Overview
    • Night Work
    • Sewer Cleaning and Repair
    • Sewer Repair
    • Water Main Breaks
    • Water Main Installation Process
    • Construction Management Overview
    • Sewer Upgrades in San Francisco Overview
    • Sewer System Improvement Program Overview
    • Water Infrastructure Improvements Overview
  • About Us
    About Us

    Providing retail drinking water, power, and sewer services to the city.

    Overview
    • About Us Overview
    • Who We Are keyboard_arrow_right
    • Our Systems keyboard_arrow_right
    • Boards, Commissions and Committees keyboard_arrow_right
    • Careers at the SFPUC keyboard_arrow_right
    • Public Notices and Public Meeting Notices
    • Reports keyboard_arrow_right
    • News
    • Policies and Plans keyboard_arrow_right
    • Contact Us
    • About Us Overview Overview
    • Who We Are Overview
    • Our Mission
    • Executive Management
    • Community Benefits Approach
    • Our History
    • Our Systems Overview
    • Water System
    • Hetch Hetchy Power System
    • Storage and Delivery Updates
    • Sewer System
    • Regional Watersheds
    • Emergency Firefighting Water System
    • Dam Safety
    • Boards, Commissions and Committees Overview
    • SFPUC Commission
    • Citizens' Advisory Committee
    • Rate Fairness Board
    • Revenue Bond Oversight Committee
    • Southeast Community Facility Commission
    • Small Firm Advisory Committee
    • Residential Users Appeal Board
    • Careers at the SFPUC Overview
    • Apply Now
    • Working at the SFPUC
    • Apprenticeships and Work Experience Programs
    • Internships and Youth Employment
    • Workforce Development
    • Public Notices and Public Meeting Notices Overview
    • Reports Overview
    • Audited Financial Statements & Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports
    • Debt Management and Disclosure Reports
    • Long Term Vulnerability Assessment
    • Municipal Buildings Energy Benchmarking
    • Operating and Capital Budgets
    • Popular Annual Financial Reports
    • San Francisco Bay Area Precipitation in a Warmer World
    • SFPUC Preliminary Public Power Options Report
    • Water Resources Annual Report
    • Community Benefits Annual Report
    • News Overview
    • Policies and Plans Overview
    • Financial Plans and Policies
    • Agency Strategic Plan
    • Statement of Incompatible Activities
    • Civic Center Sustainable Utilities District Plan
    • Community Benefits
    • Resolution Condemning Systemic Racism & Taking Action to Promote Racial Justice
    • Environmental Justice and Land Use
    • Land Management and Use Policies
    • Language Access Policy
    • Accessibility
    • OneWaterSF
    • Stormwater Management Plan
    • Urban Water Management Plan
    • Water Quality Planning
    • Wildfire Mitigation Plan
    • Surveillance Technology Ordinance
    • Contact Us Overview
  • search
San Francisco Water Power Sewer. Services of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. San Francisco Water Power Sewer. Services of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
  • search
  • Menu menu

You are here

  • Home
  • Learning
  • Come Visit
  • Current: Pulgas Water Temple

Pulgas Water Temple

Image of the Pulgas Water Temple. The temple stands behind a bright blue pool of water lined by tall cypress trees.

About the Temple

San Francisco built Pulgas Water Temple as a monument to the engineering marvel that brought Hetch Hetchy water more than 160 miles across California from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay Area. The Hetch Hetchy Project took 24 years to build through the Great Depression at a cost of $102 million.

On October 28, 1934, the roar of Hetch Hetchy mountain water greeted everyone gathered at Pulgas Water Temple to celebrate its arrival. With vivid memories of the fire that had raged unchecked after the Great Earthquake of 1906, the city rejoiced in its new secure, plentiful supply of high quality drinking water. The frieze above the columns expresses the city’s joyful relief:

“I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people.”

Pulgas Water Temple was designed in the Beaux Arts style by William Merchant, a San Francisco architect trained by Bernard Maybeck. Merchant’s design featured fluted columns and Corinthian capitals to reflect the architecture of ancient Greeks and Romans, whose engineering methods were used to build the new water system. Artist and master stone carver Albert Bernasconi brought Merchant’s drawings to life.

Hours

  • Monday through Friday: The Temple grounds and parking lot are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sunday, and federally observed holidays: The parking lot is closed. Hikers and bikers may access the grounds through the pedestrian gate 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note, the grounds are closed to the public during Saturday wedding ceremonies.

How to Get There

The Pulgas Water Temple is located just north of Filoli on Canada Road. Hikers and bikers can take the Crystal Springs Regional Trail.

Driving Directions: Take Interstate 280 to the Edgewood Road exit. Proceed west on Edgewood Road to Cañada Road, then north on Cañada Road approximately two miles to the temple.

Amenities 

  • Parking: Parking is free and limited. Please obey no parking signs on Canada Road and do not block entrance gate.

  • Restrooms: Portable restrooms are available. There are no handwashing stations.

  • Drinking Water: There is a water fountain located in near the parking lot as you enter the grounds.

  • Picnicking: There are no picnic tables or benches on the grounds. Please pack out any trash.

  • Learning: Explore interpretive panels as you stroll the grounds to learn more about the Regional Water System and Peninsula Watershed.

Special Events

The Temple grounds are available for weddings ceremonies on Saturdays, April through October.  Please contact us at gng@sfwater.org or 650-652-3209 for more information.

Main navigation Level 2

  • keyboard_arrow_left

    Come Visit

    • Hetch Hetchy
    • Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail
    • Pulgas Water Temple
    • Sunol Water Temple
    • Lake Merced
    • Wastewater Treatment Plant Tours
    • 525 Golden Gate Avenue
    • Alameda Creek Watershed Center
    • Southeast Community Center
    • Hummingbird Farm
    • College Hill Learning Garden
San Francisco Water Power Sewer. Services of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Got questions or feedback? Please let us know!

Connect with us

  • Social Icon XX
  • Social Icon InstagramInstagram
  • Social Icon FacebookFacebook
  • Social Icon YouTubeYoutube
  • Social Icon LinkedInLinkedIn
San Francisco Water Power Sewer. Services of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Menu keyboard_arrow_down

  • Accounts & Services
  • Programs
  • Learning
  • Construction & Contracts
  • About Us

How can we help? keyboard_arrow_down

  • My Account - Water
  • My Account - Power
  • Public Notices
  • See My Rates
  • CleanPowerSF

Tools for... keyboard_arrow_down

  • Developers
  • Educators
  • Job Seekers
  • Residents

Connect with us

  • Social Icon XX
  • Social Icon InstagramInstagram
  • Social Icon FacebookFacebook
  • Social Icon YouTubeYoutube
  • Social Icon LinkedInLinkedIn
  • Translation Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
  • Service Alerts

Privacy Policy | © 2011-2025 San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. All Rights Reserved.

What can we help you find today?

Popular Searches

How do I pay my bill? How can I apply to SFPUC? How do I contact support? What rates am I paying?

Tools for...

Residents Developers Educators