Did the SFPUC come close to running out of water during the recent drought?

No. At the height of the recent drought (2015), the SFPUC still had enough water in storage to last three years. In 2016 (an average water year) storage began to rebound, and by summer the SFPUC had enough water in storage to last five years. (Note: In an average year, the SFPUC is entitled to enough water to last three years.) 2017 was the second wettest year on record, and the SFPUC was entitled to enough water to last 12 years. Their reservoirs quickly filled to capacity, forcing the SFPUC to “dump” 88% of their entitlement.

During the drought, the SFPUC’s water bank in the Don Pedro Reservoir got low, but allowed them to keep their three main reservoirs close to full.