San Francisco residents tell SFPUC artificial turf is not a water-saving solution, cite PFAS and lifecycle impacts

Residents and environmental advocates used the public-comment period at a San Francisco Public Utilities Commission meeting to press the agency to stop promoting artificial turf as a drought-tolerant landscaping solution.

Bob Hall told commissioners that independent life-cycle studies show nearly 1,000 gallons of water are used to manufacture one square meter of turf and that a single soccer field can require the equivalent of millions of gallons before installation. He said turf fields also leach PFAS and other additives into stormwater, and argued routing runoff to sewer treatment does not fully remove those contaminants. Another caller raised concerns about plasticizers (bis(2‑ethylhexyl) phthalates) leaching from turf blades and the inability of municipal recycling systems to accept removed turf.

The speakers urged SFPUC to align with its stated pollution‑prevention strategy and avoid actions that expand use of materials they said will increase microplastic and PFAS loads to the Bay. Bob Hall said the SFPUC’s approach to stopping pollution at the source makes expanding artificial turf “a step in the opposite direction.”

The public comments occurred during the meeting’s general comment period; commissioners did not take a formal action on artificial turf at this meeting. The speakers asked PUC and Recreation & Park staff to reconsider calendar promotions and policies that appear to endorse turf installations.